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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-09-24 Daily Xml
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Question Time

Land Tax Forum

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:08): My question is to the Minister for Child Protection. Why did the minister lock out the media from her land tax forum last Friday?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Premier, be seated for one moment. Members on my left—

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:09): I am very happy to answer this, sir.

The SPEAKER: Yes, one moment, Premier. I call to order the following members for interjecting: the member for Badcoe, the deputy leader and the Leader of the Opposition. Premier.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Thank you very much, sir; I am very happy to answer this question. I think it is important that the member for Adelaide works with her constituents through the complex issue of land tax reform—a reform that we are up to here on this side of the house. They contrast very distinctly from the position that is held by the other side of the house.

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

The SPEAKER: There is a point of order, Premier. I will take the point of order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Debate: the Premier immediately started talking—

The SPEAKER: I have the point of order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —about the opposition's point of view.

The SPEAKER: Member for West Torrens, please be seated. As I have alluded to on occasion after occasion, I have enabled ministers or the Premier to provide some, perhaps, relevant background to the question, but I will ensure that he does stick to the substance of the question. I have the point of order. I thank the member for West Torrens. I will listen to the Premier.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Thank you very much, sir. The question is about consultation with the people of South Australia, and I was just making the point of the contrasting consultation between those on this side of the house and those on the other side of the house. We note that the Leader of the Opposition still hasn't formed an opinion—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order, sir: this is clearly debate.

The SPEAKER: I have the point of order.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader and the Deputy Premier are not helping. I don't want points of order to be raised—I am not saying that this one is, but I don't want us to be stifled by frivolous points of order in the future. I have listened to the member for West Torrens. I have given the Premier some time to warm up. He is talking about consultation, but I promise the member for West Torrens that, if it crosses a line, I will step in. Premier.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Thank you very much, sir. I was just making the point that we on this side of the house are very keen to consult with the people in our electorates about the largest land tax reform—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —in the history of this state and talk to them about our very firm position that we are taking to the people of South Australia.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: It is disorderly to respond but very tempting to respond to some of the unruly interjections of the Leader of the Opposition. The opposition are continually asserting that they are consulting.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: They haven't formed an opinion. We on this side of the house have very clear opinions—

Ms Stinson interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Badcoe!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —and we are explaining to the people of South Australia—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Members on my right, be quiet.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —the very significant reform which we are putting forward. That is precisely what we are doing.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We are putting forward—

Mr Brown: Decide and defend.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Playford is called to order.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We are putting forward a very strong position, which offers a very significant reduction in land tax in South Australia. In fact, it is the largest land tax cut in the history of South Australia. We are—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —explaining that to—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We are explaining that to the people of South Australia very clearly. Now it is up for further input from the people of South Australia.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order, sir: the question was about media attendance at these consultations.

The SPEAKER: Yes, regarding the land tax forum. I still believe that the Premier is answering in a germane fashion, but I am listening to him, to his every word.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: And so we are very keen to speak to the people in electorates when they ask us questions.

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Some MPs will make a decision to speak to their electorate—

Mr Brown: What have you got to hide?

The SPEAKER: The member for Playford is warned.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —directly, and that is precisely what we are doing. As to whether or not media should be attending these functions, that is up to the individual situation. Some people—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —who come to functions and events called by members do not want to be filmed. Some people want to provide feedback to the government in a forum which is not subject to having a television camera or a microphone put in their face. We respect those—

Mr Boyer interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Wright is called to order.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —concerns that people have. The opposition can choose to conduct their consultation with the media if they choose to do so, and I am sure that they make it clear—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —to people who are attending their functions that media will be present, but we choose to conduct our consultations—

Mr Odenwalder interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Elizabeth is called to order.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —in our own way. We have arrived at our position. What we are not clear about is what the opposition thinks regarding a massive land tax cut. They have no position.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: The Leader of the Opposition is floating around like a feather in the breeze.

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

The SPEAKER: The point of order is for debate?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes, sir.

The SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order. Is the Premier finished? The Premier has finished his answer. The Leader of the Opposition.

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