House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-03-19 Daily Xml

Contents

Private Legal Matters

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (15:01): My question is to the Deputy Premier. Why did the Deputy Premier's ministerial staffer Ms Madeleine Church transmit the Deputy Premier's correspondence pursuing a personal legal matter on government of South Australia letterhead to the member for Lee's electoral office?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (15:01): Why did she do it? She did it because I requested her to do it.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: The member, I am sure, is aware of the fact that notice was given to the member for Lee for his inaccurate assertion in relation to a tweet arising out of a report that had been tabled here in the parliament suggesting that the Auditor-General hadn't had—that there had been a change of heart in respect of the government's position on accessibility of cabinet material. As was identified in the report—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —he hadn't even asked the cabinet at that stage to provide the information.

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: The member for Lee, though, obviously hadn't read the next paragraph, or whatever his excuse is; nevertheless, he provided inaccurate information asserting the circumstances were different—

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee can leave for 20 minutes under 137A.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —in relation to that matter.

The SPEAKER: I have been very tolerant today.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: So the member for Lee did receive—

The Hon. T.J. Whetstone interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Primary Industries will be quiet.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —a letter from me—

The SPEAKER: Member for Lee, please, 20 minutes.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order, sir.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —to ensure that he was informed of the inaccuracy—

The SPEAKER: Will the Deputy Premier please be seated for one moment. Please stop the clock. Just before I hear the member for West Torrens, I heard the member for Lee interject. I asked him to leave. I do accept that there were other comments. I don't know what those comments were, but I will hear the point of order. It had better be a good one. Member for Lee, please leave.

The honourable member for Lee having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The Minister for Primary Industries uttered a profanity across the chamber at the member for Lee. I ask him to withdraw and apologise immediately.

The SPEAKER: Does the minister have something to say?

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: I did hear the member for Lee asking the Deputy Premier if she was going to—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I will hear the point of clarification. Be quiet on my left.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: He asked the Deputy Premier if she was going to use her global allowance to renovate her home.

The SPEAKER: Yes, and I asked him to leave.

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: That is highly inappropriate.

The SPEAKER: Yes, and I asked him to leave. Would you like to—

The Hon. T.J. WHETSTONE: And I withdraw.

The SPEAKER: Thank you. The minister has withdrawn. The Deputy Premier has finished her answer. The member for West Torrens, then the member for Mount Gambier and then the member for Heysen.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!