Water Pricing

Mr GRIFFITHS (Goyder) (15:08): Supplementary, sir, and this has to be to the Minister for Regional Development: what representations has the minister made to the government about water prices, and what feedback has he received, not—

Members interjecting:

Mr GRIFFITHS: Come on, sir!

The SPEAKER: Treasurer.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (15:09): Mr Speaker, we are a cabinet; we are a collective, and we discuss these matters in the cabinet. I have to say this, Mr Speaker—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Kavel! The member for Kavel is at the very centre of that melee, and I call him to order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I understand that unity is a foreign concept for members opposite, but we are one organisation in the cabinet. Any representation that the cabinet is having about water pricing is done in a budget process and, of course, in the price determinations.

I have to say this: regional members—Labor, Liberal, Independent—cabinet ministers and all members of the house, with the community, are constantly talking to the government about what we can do to ease the cost of living, and to ease the cost of doing business in this state. The government is actively pursuing those options, and the people who are leading the charge for the regions are two Independents in our cabinet who care deeply about the regions. To quote prime minister Whitlam: 'The impotent are pure.'

The SPEAKER: Supplementary, deputy leader.