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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-03-06 Daily Xml
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Australian Employment Alliance

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley) (14:40): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Will the minister meet with the Australian Employment Alliance, and if so when? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: On radio this morning Gary Collis, the industrial advocate for the Australian Employment Alliance, said that a meeting had been secured with the minister but that at short notice this was cancelled. He said that the drivers 'feel betrayed and deserted by the minister'.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:40): I haven't met any drivers who feel deserted and abandoned because they are coming into public ownership. I always endeavour to meet with all my stakeholders. I don't know why the meeting was cancelled. It could have been because I was holding a press conference or something else came up or some other meeting interfered. Ministers are very busy and have a very busy schedule. I don't have the time to do the TikToks and the Instagram posts that my young friend does.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: He is getting very good at it, though, I have to say. It's like he is practising for something.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Hartley, you are warned.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: What my young friend will realise as his career goes on and on, and hopefully up and up—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: He is my friend.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: You see that's the problem with members opposite; I don't consider them my enemy. I am their friend. I could tell you the times I had in the last parliament, how many times they came and spent hours in my office—hours in my office—telling me their troubles—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —telling me all sorts of weird and wonderful stories, which one day will be going in a book, titled A Shoulder to Cry On. But I do consider the member for Hartley a good and decent person, and I do consider him a friend despite what members behind him might interject.

I am disappointed Mr Collis has said that. I don't know why the meeting was cancelled, but I also point out that it is the union that represents the workers, not any one individual.

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