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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-03-31 Daily Xml
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The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (15:16): My question is to the Premier. Was a letter written by one of South Australia's most trusted public servants, Professor Nicola Spurrier, posted on an official government website, hosted actually on a domain controlled by the Liberal Party? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Last night, in media statements made by the ABC, they claimed a letter by Nicola Spurrier was being directed by the government to a Liberal Party website for its view.

The Hon. S.S. Marshall: Which department?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Health.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (15:16): I have no knowledge of this whatsoever. Of course, we don't control the government websites; that would be controlled by SA Health, of which Nicola Spurrier is a member. I have no knowledge of this whatsoever, but to make an accusation like this is very, very serious, quite frankly. The member for West Torrens is clearly making an accusation against departmental staff and, quite frankly, these are exactly the same people who have kept South Australia safe during coronavirus. I think it is an extraordinary accusation. Why doesn't—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Well, the member for West Torrens puts it out there. Where's the evidence of this?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Where is the evidence that has been provided? I think on numerous occasions today, sir, you have given the opposition every single opportunity to provide this house with facts, with evidence. No. We often got today a restatement of the question, asserted that it was a fact, but no evidence that's been provided whatsoever.

I have provided evidence of false statements that have been made by the member for West Torrens in the media. You could drive a truck through some of the arguments that have been put up, and then we see the behaviour by the member for West Torrens here in question time today, repeatedly interjecting and, sir, incurring your wrath and being asked to leave the chamber for 20 minutes. Not content with that, of course, he comes back into the chamber, he is barking across the chamber on a repetitive basis, bullying—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee rises on a point of order.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: That is precisely what I think Annabel Digance—

The SPEAKER: The Premier will resume his seat.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Once again, with regard to the Premier's answer, standing order 98: debate. He is not addressing the substance of the question and making no attempt to whatsoever.

The SPEAKER: The question in this way, with a similar character to a number of questions earlier in question time, proceeds on a premise, indeed on this occasion pursuant to leave to introduce facts. To the extent that the Premier addresses the foundation or the lack thereof of those facts, the answer is in order. I do direct the Premier to the question. The Premier has the call.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: All we have in terms of information on this is a media release put out by the member for West Torrens. Well, quite frankly, I don't trust it, unless he is going to actually provide the evidence that we can investigate. When he was asked in the media would he provide it he said, 'No, I don't trust the Liberal Party.' How can we be asked to answer questions, serious allegations, directed against the hardworking men and women—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —in our health department in South Australia, the very department that has kept us safe and kept our economy strong through this extraordinary time? The accusations are out there, but no evidence is provided. You have already thrown the member out; he has come back in and continued his poor behaviour, bullying across the chamber. This is precisely the type of outrageous—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: And there they go again, protecting the member for West Torrens.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee rises on a point of order.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Protecting him!

The SPEAKER: The Premier will resume his seat.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Once again, Mr Speaker, standing order 98: he is debating in the answer. He is not addressing the substance of the question and making no attempt to whatsoever; in fact, in an unparliamentary manner he is reflecting on other members.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier will direct himself and his answer to the question. The Premier has the call.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I feel like I have covered this matter as much as I can, and I note that we have already gone past the time allocated for questions from the crossbench, so I will conclude my answer here and look forward to questions from the crossbench.

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