NATIONAL ENERGY RETAIL LAW (SOUTH AUSTRALIA) (IMPLEMENTATION) AMENDMENT BILL

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 15 March 2012.)

Mr WILLIAMS (MacKillop—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (12:52): As I acknowledged to the house earlier, I got the two bills mixed up. This is a bill to implement law that was passed through the parliament about 12 months ago. It will institute the customer framework at the national level and move the regulatory regime—that regime that works between customers and electricity and gas retailers—to a national framework. As I said earlier in the day, as far as I can ascertain from briefings from the government and from reading the bill, there will be little change in the regulatory arrangement between customers and energy providers or retailers here in South Australia as a result of this. The opposition supports the bill.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (12:53): I would like to thank each member for their contribution to this lively debate. These bills propose amendments to the National Energy Retail Law (South Australia) Act 2007, the Electricity Act 1996, the Gas Act 1997, the Essential Services Commission Act 2002, the National Electricity (South Australia) Act 1996 and the National Gas (South Australia) Act 2008 to implement the National Energy Customer Framework in South Australia. The Energy Customer Framework delivers on the government's commitment to a national framework for regulating retailers and distributors who sell and supply electricity and gas to customers.

I want to thank the opposition for the timely way in which it has dealt with these two bills. People in our community often think that all politicians do is fight amongst themselves. There is certainly some of that but, often, most legislation that passes through the house passes in a bipartisan way.

I look forward to this legislation passing both houses of parliament. As I said in my second reading speech, Madam Speaker, this bill delivers on the government's commitment to a national framework for regulating retailers and distributors who sell and supply electricity and gas to customers. In June 2006, COAG amended the Australian Energy Market Agreement to provide for, among other things, a national framework. That national framework—and it is this as its final component—known as the National Energy Customer Framework (referred to here as 'the customer framework') consists as a package of laws, rules and regulations.

There is no doubt that energy generation and supply is a hot topic; it is a topic of great concern for a number of South Australians. Our job is to make sure that the lights are on when South Australians turn on the lights, to make sure they have consistency of supply, and that it is provided in an equitable manner. I commend this bill to the house.

Bill read a second time.

Third Reading

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (12:55): I move:

That this bill now be read a third time.

Bill read a third time and passed.

[Sitting suspended from 12:56 to 14:00]