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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-04-03 Daily Xml
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GM HOLDEN

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (15:06): Given the minister's answer that it would provide much more scrutiny by giving it to the whole house, does the minister concede that the legislation surrounding the IDC committee provides for confidential evidence to be given by witnesses such as Holden's so that both sides of the house can be advised of confidential matters, and debating it before the parliament does not allow Holden's to advise the opposition of that confidential information because it will be made public?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (15:06): I thank the member for his question and his keen interest in this, and I understand he made some public remarks about not releasing information that was commercial-in-confidence for GMH. The Liberal Party were given a briefing by Holden's.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I don't know why that's funny. I do not know why a private company that is investing a billion dollars in South Australia is somehow a laughing matter. The opposition were given private briefings with the company. They were allowed to ask any question that they wanted to ask.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The government never attempted to censor the opposition or what questions they could ask. They could ask any question they wanted. In fact, the shadow treasurer went on radio and talked about the importance of keeping that information in confidence. They could have asked any question they wanted to of Holden. The government made a decision that the best place to debate this was in the house, where everyone got a say—every single member got a say.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Williams: Anyway, you have proved you can't be trusted.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Madam Speaker, I ask him to withdraw that remark.

The SPEAKER: Deputy leader, I would ask you to withdraw that remark.

Mr WILLIAMS: Withdraw the remark that he proved that he can't be trusted because he says one thing on radio and another thing in the house? I withdraw it.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I simply make the point that the deputy leader is—

An honourable member: Sook, sook, sook!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: It is also out of order to call someone a sook, sook, sook. I have to say, if you know me you will know I am not a sook, sook, sook. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: —knows it is out of order to get up and repeat the insult while pretending to withdraw it.

The SPEAKER: I am sure that the deputy leader does know that, but we will move on.

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