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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-04-09 Daily Xml
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LABOR PARTY FUNDRAISING

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen) (14:49): My question is to the Premier. Are companies with an interest in winning government business approached to host ALP fundraising events for Labor's fundraising vehicle, SA Progressive Business Inc.? The SA Progressive Business Incorporated fundraising calendar indicates that fundraisers have been organised and hosted by Parsons Brinckerhoff, who build desalination plants; KPMG, whom the government engaged to have Adelaide included in its competitiveness report; Newport Quays, who are the consortium for the Port Adelaide waterfront development; Canberra Investment Corporation, who won the bid for the $200 million Northgate Stage 3 development; the Plenary Group, who were part of the consortium that won the government work on the prisons and courts, and have put in an expression of interest on the super schools; Bilfinger Berger Project Investments, who have also put in an expression of interest on the super schools; and Woods Bagot, who designed the new Forestry SA office and were part of the $1.4 million redevelopment project of the Modbury Hospital emergency department. Some events have a ticket price of over $2,000 per person.

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:50): All donations to political parties over a certain amount of money by law have to be declared. However—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. M.D. RANN: And you have fundraisers and we all know who was bankrolling you for a long time. The key point of the matter is that, whilst declarations must be declared by law, all of us remember the Catch Tim episode where donations were laundered through shelf companies in Hong Kong, and Catch Tim caught Vickie.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Deputy Premier will take his seat. This is just unacceptable behaviour. As I said before, we seem to get ourselves into trouble when members on either side start calling out to each other while another member is on his feet. Take a chill pill. Let us take things calmly, please. Let us stop calling out. It is impossible for me to talk to the member for MacKillop about his question when there is anarchy going on in the chamber.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I rise on a point of order, sir. The Leader of the Opposition said to me that I had my hands in their, the businesses, pockets—fingers in their pockets—and that if there was no donation, there was no deal. That is an allegation of corruption. I find it highly offensive. He should apologise and withdraw and, if he has any courage, make it outside of the chamber.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister for Transport will take his seat. If the Leader of the Opposition did make that remark it is imputing improper motives on the part of the minister. I did not hear it—I was trying to discuss a matter with the member for MacKillop. If he did make the remark, then I direct him to withdraw it.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition.

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: Mr Speaker, I will just make the point that we put up with insults from this side daily—

The SPEAKER: Order! If a member on my right has made an allegation or said something to the Leader of the Opposition, I am happy to take them to task for it. I did not hear what was said on that side either. Let us first deal with this one. If the Leader of the Opposition made the remark, I direct him to withdraw it.

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: I would like the member to repeat the remark, sir, because my recollection of what he has just said is not what I interjected, so get up and say it again—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: —and we'll see if it lines up with what I interjected.

The SPEAKER: Order!

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister for Transport has said that the Leader of the Opposition said words to the effect that the minister was engaged in some sort of corruption, had his fingers in the till was, I think, the wording—

The Hon. P.F. Conlon: Fingers in the pockets.

The SPEAKER: Fingers in the pockets, I think, was the expression that was used. I ask the Leader of the Opposition, if he did make that remark, to withdraw.

The Hon. M.J. Atkinson: Tell the truth!

The SPEAKER: Order! I do not need the assistance of the Attorney-General. I ask him to withdraw. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to draw to my attention something that has been said on the other side, I am happy to deal with it. Let us just deal with this first. If the Leader of the Opposition says he did not say it, then that is it.

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: Mr Speaker, I did not mention the word 'corruption' which he alleges I mentioned, so there is no need to withdraw it.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! All that is happening is this house is bringing disgrace upon itself. People in the gallery and the public expect more of us than this stupid nonsense. I just want to get on with things. I want to move on with question time. I presume opposition members have questions they want to ask. We can stay here for the remaining 20 minutes debating what was said by whom. I am directing the Leader of the Opposition, if he did make those remarks, to withdraw them. As I said, I did not hear. If he says he did not make them, I will take his word for it. But if he did make those remarks which imputed corruption on behalf of the Minister for Transport, I direct him to withdraw.

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: Mr Speaker, I did not mention the word 'corruption', so I am not going to apologise for a word he alleges I mentioned that I did not. I did say, 'No donation, no deal.' If he assumes that alleges an improper motive, I am happy to withdraw it, but I would like to proceed with the questions, because there is an issue.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Take a seat. I call members on my right to order! 'No donation, no deal,' I assure the Leader of the Opposition, is an allegation of corruption, and I am sure any authority would find that to be the case. But, as the leader has withdrawn it, let us move on. The member for Norwood.

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