CARBON TAX

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (14:39): My question is to the Premier. Given the Premier's support for the federal carbon tax, which all commentators acknowledge will drive up electricity and water prices—

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Point of order, Madam Speaker. To say that all commentators acknowledge it will drive up the price is argument.

Mrs Redmond interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: The Leader of the Opposition interjects. Anyway, you should not provoke debate by engaging in argument in your question.

The SPEAKER: The leader has been here long enough to know that and I would ask you to be careful in the wording of your questions.

Mrs REDMOND: I will take the little bit out, Madam Speaker, about all commentators acknowledging—

The SPEAKER: Thank you. You don't need to repeat it.

Mrs REDMOND: —that it will drive up water and electricity prices, and simply ask the Premier: given the Premier's support for the federal carbon tax, what is his government doing to combat the rising cost of living affecting South Australian families who are already paying record prices for water and electricity?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for State Development) (14:40): If I can address the premise on which the question is asked, that the carbon tax will drive up electricity costs, I repeat for purpose of the house—because it is important that the information is before the house—that the average expected cost of living impact from the carbon tax, of all sources, not just electricity prices, will be 0.7 per cent in 2012-13 or $9.90 per week. Households will receive a combination of increased payments or tax cuts worth an average of $10.10 per week. So, the premise of the question is simply not made out.

I must say, I can recall the faint echo of the past—and maybe the member for Ramsay might be able to assist me here, but I can recall the former leader opposite saying that the privatisation of the Electricity Trust would lead to long-term, sustainably lower electricity prices.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!