SOLAR FEED-IN SCHEME

Mr WILLIAMS (MacKillop—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:46): My question is to the Minister for Energy. Given the dramatic uptake of the government's solar feed-in scheme before this week's cut-off, has the government modelled what cost of living increases will accrue through increased household electricity prices as a result of the feed-in scheme? If so, what are the results of that modelling and, if not, why not?

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN (Napier—Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Energy, Minister for the Northern Suburbs) (14:46): We have, but unfortunately I don't have the figures at my fingertips.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

An honourable member: World's best energy minister.

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: Thanks for that.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: Yes, I've expanded since then—additional responsibilities. From memory, deputy leader, I think we put the increase at around 8 per cent of electricity bills, but I will look at that. However, one of the things we did establish (and one of the things that was a concern for me initially) was that that additional cost impost was falling on low income households and that the uptake was strongest in the eastern suburbs of Adelaide, so the poorer suburbs and poorer regions of South Australia would be subsidising the wealthier.

An honourable member: Springfield.

The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN: Yes, Springfield being one of those and me a potential beneficiary. One electricity company had done some modelling that indicated that on a national basis this was the case. We did an analysis of postcodes, which actually indicated that the uptake of panels was in the mortgage belt, particularly the newer suburbs to the north and south of Adelaide, and then the next ranking of older suburbs in which a large proportion of individuals were still paying their mortgage, so this 8 per cent—and I will get back to the deputy leader with a firm figure—is actually falling not on the mortgage belt or low income earners; it is actually being picked up by wealthier residents in South Australia. I will return with a specific figure. We do know what it is, but I just don't have that particular figure at my disposal.