WATER PRICING

Mr WILLIAMS (MacKillop—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:50): My question is to the Minister for Water and the River Murray. How can the government claim that water prices will be kept to inflation when today, ESCOSA (the Essential Services Commission of South Australia) has stated, and I quote:

The value of SA Water's regulated asset base will need to be set significantly below the current value in order to prevent future price rises above inflation.

This is before the valuation of the desalination plant is even added to the asset base of SA Water.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Treasurer, Minister for Workers Rehabilitation, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:50): ESCOSA, the government and I are in agreement on the issue of the regulated water base, the SA Water assets, needs to be reduced. I will make a determination of that in March 2013. Historically, it's been high, and with the move to independent—

Mr Williams interjecting:

The SPEAKER: You've asked your question, deputy leader, order!

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: With the move to independent price—

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Point of order, Madam Speaker. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition will not stop interjecting, even though he takes points of order regularly. It's simply not consistent with proper practice.

The SPEAKER: Thank you.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Interjecting—

The SPEAKER: Order! Thank you, Minister for Transport.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Treasurer, have you finished your answer?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: I have.