Question Time

DESALINATION PLANTS

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (14:22): My question is to the Premier. Is it still possible that the Premier could break his promise to build a desalination plant in Adelaide? On 26 September the Premier told the house that the government was committed to a desalination plant. He repeated his promise made on radio that day. However, yesterday, on ABC Radio, the Treasurer revealed three times that there was no firm commitment. He said, first, 'If we build a desalination plant.' He then said, 'We haven't given a firm commitment.' Finally, he qualified the prospect of a desalination plant by saying, 'It is almost certain.' Who do we believe?

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Federal/State Relations) (14:23): If that is the best the Leader of the Opposition can do—

Mr Williams: What figures were Moody's basing its assessment on?

The SPEAKER: Order! If the member for MacKillop has a question, I am happy to give him the call.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: After he said that borrowings are revenue, I think the member for MacKillop should refrain from making fiscal policy statements. The Premier has made it very clear that the government is committed to building a desalination plant.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Yesterday's discussion was in the context of the Auditor-General's report and in the context of the fiscal, borrowings and debt position of the state. No cabinet decision has been taken. We do not know what the final—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: We have no final cost yet, sir. A working group is working through as we speak. It is yet to give government its final report. We have been briefed on it, but we are yet to receive it. We are yet to make final decisions relating to the project. We are scoping the project for its site. We are scoping the project for the length of discharge pipe that would be required. We are considering what would be needed for expansion. We are considering the implications of dam expansion in the Adelaide Hills.

We are considering a whole range of issues relating to both a desalination plant and the expansion of dams. That is totally consistent with a prudent approach. If members opposite want to split hairs and use the first question time in parliament to question whether or not I am conservative in my approach to these interviews they should go right ahead. A commitment has been made but no final decision has been taken because we have not yet got final advice or even the final location for where a desalination plant would be located. If the opposition wants to be taken seriously as an opposition it has to come up with better than that.