House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-05-04 Daily Xml

Contents

Ombudsman Investigation, Member for Bragg

Mr TARZIA (Hartley) (15:24): My question again is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Following the Ombudsman's report, will the minister withdraw the allegation of corruption he made against the former Attorney in this house on 25 August last year?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (15:24): I don't think I ever made an accusation of corruption. I might have asked the question, but I don't think I ever said the member was corrupt. I would not do that, even with privilege.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Who was giggling? You haven't got much to giggle about, mate, seriously.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I know it's a bit soon, but if I were you I would keep the giggling to a minimum.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister will not respond to interjections.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The giggling is a bit much given what you have done.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: With the damage you have left, I wouldn't giggle.

The SPEAKER: Member for West Torrens!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I would just perhaps apologise to your colleagues and just keep quiet.

The SPEAKER: I'm not sure what one does with an interjection of that type, but the member for West Torrens shouldn't do anything with it.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: But, no, I do not think that the member for Bragg is corrupt, and I don't think I ever made that accusation. I might have posed the question: is it corrupt? But if the member for Hartley has evidence that I said that she was corrupt, yes, I will withdraw that because I don't think the member for Bragg is corrupt. I do think she had a conflict of interest and I do think she misled the parliament, but I don't think she was in this for the money.