WATER BILLING

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (14:44): Does the Minister for Water Security have regular meetings with SA Water's CEO, Anne Howe; how often are the meetings; and, at any time since she became the Minister for Water Security, has she received a briefing from SA Water in relation to its plans to build the new pricing regime from 1 July?

The Hon. K.A. MAYWALD (Chaffey—Minister for the River Murray, Minister for Water Security, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Small Business, Minister Assisting the Minister for Industry and Trade) (14:45): I have regular meetings with SA Water, as I would, of course, as the Minister for SA Water. I actually have a meeting this afternoon. I meet with SA Water probably on a fortnightly basis and sometimes more often, depending on the issues we are dealing with.

In relation to the 1 July pricing issue, it was a combination of work undertaken by a series of people because we were dealing with not only the water pricing issue but also the desalination infrastructure investment and a whole range of issues in that decision by cabinet. To go forward with the desalination plant, we needed to have a pricing policy. Treasury and SA Water were working closely together in relation to that part of the project. SA Water was working with the Water Security Council task force and the desalination working group to determine the way forward for the desalination plant.

We have been undertaking a full review of the Water Act 1932 and, yes, included in that full review of the act was the notion of quarterly billing. The quarterly billing issue has now been withdrawn from that entire review and will be implemented ahead of the completion of that full review.