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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-09-08 Daily Xml
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Member for West Torrens

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:23): I, too, rise to speak and draw the house's attention to the latest incident involving Labor's standard-bearer, the member for West Torrens. The member for West Torrens is well known to the people of South Australia for his abusive language, speeding, not paying fines, delivering the highest energy prices to the world. He is also very well known to the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption.

The issue I rise to speak about today will add to that shameful record. It is an issue that the opposition leader, who is blindly led around by the member for West Torrens, should pay attention to. Recently, at the Public Works Committee hearing on 26 August, the Department for Environment and Water presented evidence regarding the Glenthorne National Park. The member for West Torrens proceeded to behave, as he always does, aggressively.

On that day, two hardworking public servants from the Department for Environment and Water had to put up with the member for West Torrens' aggressive behaviour through questioning. One of those people collapsed during that questioning from the member for West Torrens, his aggressive interrogation, and that public servant required hospitalisation. When the meeting reconvened, the member for West Torrens appeared to be more concerned with how his conduct would be viewed rather than the wellbeing of that DEW employee who had now been rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital by ambulance.

Here is a phrase the opposition will be familiar with because they love using it: there are very serious questions to answer. Has the member for West Torrens discussed this matter with the Leader of the Opposition? Has the Leader of the Opposition had the decency to check on the wellbeing of that public servant involved in the incident? What actions has the opposition leader taken in response to this matter?

His manner must change. I have witnessed it personally. When I came into this place as a new MP, I was falsely accused of making a comment towards the member for West Torrens. But to have him pull up next to me—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr WHETSTONE: To have him pull up next to me at the traffic lights in his big white ministerial vehicle and run his finger around his throat demonstrated his bullyboy tactics. I watch and I listen too often to the language and the bullying of the member for Adelaide and the Deputy Premier by the member for West Torrens, all while the Leader of the Opposition sits by smiling without issue and without issuing any advice to stop the bullying. In my view, the Leader of the Opposition must take action to ensure his mate, the member for West Torrens, changes his behaviour.

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