Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-11-23 Daily Xml

Contents

LOCAL GOVERNMENT DISASTER FUND

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:35): My questions are to the Minister for State/Local Government Relations on the subject of the state disaster fund. My questions are:

1. Has the minister determined terms of reference and will he make them publicly available?

2. When can councils expect to receive payment?

3. On full payout, what will be the balance of the reserve?

The PRESIDENT: The Minister for State/Local Government Relations.

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink: Under 'S' for state disaster fund.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:36): You're a barrel of laughs. I thank the member for her very important questions. Members will recall that widespread storms in December 2010 and February 2011 over the northern Mid North and western regions of South Australia caused extensive wind and flood damage to local government infrastructure in a number of adjoining council regions, including Goyder, Clare and Gilbert Valleys, Barossa, Light, Orroroo/Carrieton, Northern Areas and Peterborough. To assist councils in remediation damages, funding is available through the state's Local Government Disaster Fund to contribute towards the cost of reparation. Just before we start off on this, the history of this fund is that this fund goes back quite a long way.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: Do you want to listen to the answer or not? I am quite happy not to answer it if you're not going to let me finish it.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The minister can choose to answer the question any way he likes.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The minister was attempting to answer, but the opposition wasn't attempting to listen. The Hon. Mr Wade.

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: Well, shut up and let me—

The PRESIDENT: Order!

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink: If the minister—

The PRESIDENT: Order! When I call somebody, they will get to their feet or they will miss out. The Hon. Mr Wade.

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Wade wouldn't stand up when he was called.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink: You are an embarrassment.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: If you want an answer, let me answer. Don't sit there and interrupt.

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink: You can't answer because you're an idiot.

The PRESIDENT: Order! The both of you will take it outside in a minute because that's where I will put you.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: You can go behind the shed. The Hon. Mr Wade.