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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-11-09 Daily Xml
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PENALTY RATES

Mr GRIFFITHS (Goyder) (15:03): My question is to the Minister for Small Business. Why is it that you, as Minister for Small Business, did not ensure that the Restaurant and Catering Association SA and the Australian Hotels Association were both consulted prior to the decision to increase penalty rates for workers on the government's new part public holidays?

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Point of order: it will help with orderly behaviour if the questions are addressed through the chair.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, minister. You will remember that, member for Goyder. Have you finished your question?

Mr GRIFFITHS: I have.

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Small Business.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (15:04): The Restaurant and Catering Association: I am surprised by their spokesperson.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister.

The Hon. I.F. Evans interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the member for Davenport!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: As the Premier said—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —this government will always be on the side of working people. The Restaurant and Catering Association knows full well that every year around this time the government comes out with an announcement about trading hours around the Christmas and New Year period. What happened was that this association probably did not get its act together. Business SA is the peak body for representing businesses in this state. Do people opposite dispute that? They do not. Business SA, which is the oldest chamber of commerce, I understand, in the country, came to the government with a proposal about trading hours and now the opposition says, 'Don't listen.'

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Norwood, you are warned again.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Madam Speaker, if we float we are a witch: if we drown we are innocent. If we listen to Business SA but not another association, we have not consulted. This government always consults.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Business SA is the peak body for business in this state. If members opposite laugh at that, that is their choice. Businesses in South Australia—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Norwood, you are warned for the third time.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Business SA is the peak body in this state for representing business.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I know the member for Norwood is saying that they are not; we disagree.

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