Personal Explanation

Member's Remarks

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (15:23): I rise to make a personal explanation. I have been having quite a few chips from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition today. When I rose to leave the chamber, I was confronted with, 'Can't wait to get out of the chamber.'

The SPEAKER: The Premier might just pause. The Premier requires leave. Does the Premier seek leave?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Yes, sir.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I find it extraordinary the assertion from the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, who shouted across the chamber as I got up to leave question time—which I do every day after we finish question time because we have important work in government to get on with—'Can't wait to get out of the chamber.' It flows on from a comment that she made earlier with a question, which was ruled by the Speaker out of order, regarding my inability to answer questions that the opposition had put today. I make this point by way of a personal explanation: none of those questions were directed to any of the portfolios that I am responsible for.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: And there were people sitting in this chamber—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —who have the direct responsibility for these areas. So as per usual—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Reynell!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —what we get from the opposition is just politics—politics, politics, politics.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I am extraordinarily proud of my government's—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I am extraordinarily proud of the way that my government has addressed a range of issues which affect women in South Australia since coming to government. We have advanced a range of legislation—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier will resume his seat. The Premier—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left! The occasion for giving a personal explanation, in accordance with standing order 108, is just that: it is an occasion to give a personal explanation and not to engage in broader debate. I remind the Premier of the need to confine remarks accordingly. The Premier has the call.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I will conclude now because I do have other important business to attend to out of this, but I utterly reject the assertion from the deputy leader that I cannot wait to get out of this chamber. I enjoy fulfilling my responsibility in this chamber every single day that I come into this place. Again, I make it very clear that I am—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —very proud of every single one of the policies and the funding that we have brought to a range of issues affecting women in this state since coming to government.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The question before the house is that the house note grievances. The member for Reynell.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Reynell has the call. The member for Reynell is entitled to be heard in silence.