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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-06-10 Daily Xml
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Adelaide Convention Centre Gala Dinner

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (14:30): My question is to the Premier. Was a database of multicultural groups held by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet or the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission used to invite people to the fundraising event held by the Premier's assistant minister, the Hon. Jing Lee?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:31): I think this gives a very clear insight into the way the previous government operated. Most people would appreciate that the Hon. Jing Lee has been an outstanding advocate for Multicultural SA. There is not a function I go to where I don't get people telling me about the incredible contribution she has made over her time in this parliament and before.

I think it's fantastic that we live in such a diverse and respectful multicultural state, a place that values that great diversity we have in our state, and one of the champions of that diversity is, of course, the Hon. Jing Lee. It was disappointing recently when she stood for the presidency in the Legislative Council that the Labor Party, who quite often get out there saying—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: The Labor Party are always talking about diversity—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: They are talking about gender, but when they get put to the test—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for West Torrens!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: When they get put to the test they are found wanting.

Mr Brown interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Playford is warned for a second time.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: It's a disgraceful situation that Labor didn't support the government's candidate—

The Hon. Z.L. Bettison interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Ramsay!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —for that very important role, but it does talk to the way they are always looking—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Badcoe!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —for politics in every single situation. The member for West Torrens just hit the nail on the head with his very question, basically giving us a very clear insight into the way they ran government when they were on the treasury bench. Can I just say that we on this side of the house—

Mr Malinauskas: Answer the question.

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —run government in a very different way, in a very, very different way from those opposite—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee is warned for a second time.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We do everything we can to value—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Chaffey!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —multicultural affairs in South Australia, to celebrate multicultural affairs in this state. We are very grateful to our multicultural leaders in South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Premier will resume his seat for a moment. The member for Playford will leave for 30 minutes in accordance with standing order 137A. The member for Torrens is called to order, the member for Badcoe is called to order, the member for Chaffey is warned for a second time, the member Ramsay is called to order and the Deputy Premier is called to order.

The honourable member for Playford having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: As I was saying, I think the nature of the question gives us a great insight into the way the opposition acted when they were on the treasury bench—and, of course, it has continued in opposition. We know that Rhiannon Pearce, the candidate the Labor Party has for King, is a current staffer. We know that the candidate for Adelaide is Lucy Hood and we know that stands in incredible contrast.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the minister!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We know that members of the Leader of the Opposition's office turn up in those fake moments when you are walking down the street—interesting people on those Meet Pete type advertisements that you see popping up all the time on your Instagram feed. It shows how desperate they are.

But we will not be diverted. We will focus on the things which are important for people in South Australia, and one of those things is supporting our diverse multicultural communities in South Australia. I have to say a massive thankyou to each and every one of them. They worked very hard during COVID. There were some very worried and anxious people across our multicultural communities in South Australia when COVID hit.

I am very grateful to the leaders, the community leaders and the imams we had within the Muslim community who worked with their faith communities, with their diverse communities, to identify the types of things they should be doing and could be doing to help South Australia through the worst of the coronavirus. I take my hat off to our diverse multicultural community in South Australia. I don't look for opportunities for politics in it all day every day like those opposite.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the member for Colton, I call to order the member for Kavel.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Members on my left, members on my right! I warn the Minister for Energy and Mining. Again, I am one of those members who was present here until the early hours of this morning, and I am conscious that all members have been working very much through the majority of the hours of the last 48 hours in particular. That is no cause for ongoing interjection. The member asking the question is entitled to be heard in silence. The member answering the question is entitled to be heard in silence.

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