STATE MAJOR BANK LEVY

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:41): Equally, I look forward to the minister's comments about
the Medicare levy increase to fund the NDIS. However, I seek leave to make a brief explanation
before asking the Minister for Employment a question about the state bank tax.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: The South Australian public has come out in an almost
unprecedented move opposing this government's new state bank tax.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! It's very disrespectful to laugh at a member of this chamber while
they are asking a question. Allow the member to ask her question.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Yes, Mr President. Thank you for your protection. They doth
protest too much. Aside from ordinary South Australians worried about being slugged with yet
another Labor government tax, industry and business lobby groups have come out and said that this
tax will cost South Australian jobs.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: Bank lobbyists.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Business lobbyists, if you were listening to the question.
Industry groups representing thousands of small and medium South Australian businesses and
employers have slammed the tax. They include Business SA, the Australian Retailers Association—
the former minister is a member of that beloved union—Primary Producers SA, the Property Council,
the Real Estate Institute, the Urban Development Institute of Australia, the Australian Hotels
Association, and Restaurant & Catering South Australia.

These industry groups represent tens of thousands of employees and businesses, including
pubs, restaurants, farmers, winemakers and so forth, and they all oppose the tax. My question to the
minister is: does the minister disagree with all of these organisations and actually believe that the
state bank tax will create jobs?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and
Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive
Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:43): Yes.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:43): Supplementary: does the minister disagree with
industry and believe this tax will increase business investment in South Australia?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and
Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive
Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:43): Yes.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:43): Does the minister disagree with industry and believe
that this tax will improve South Australia's business reputation?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and
Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive
Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:43): Yes.

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink: You're a fool!

The PRESIDENT: Order! That's totally uncalled for. The Hon. Mr Wade.

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Will the Leader of the Government desist. The Hon. Mr Wade has
the floor. Allow him to ask a question.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Take a seat, Hon. Mr Wade. I think I have said this quite a number
of times. It's very disrespectful to be talking while a member is asking a question. Allow the member to ask the question and then the minister can proceed to answer it. The Hon. Mr Wade.