Water Industry Reform

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:18): Supplementary, sir: will the Treasurer table the modelling that Treasury has done into the impacts of third-party access on SA Water dividends?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:18): No doubt the opposition is very keen for modelling to see what impacts privatisation would have on dividend payments and the value of the asset. So, obviously what the Leader of the Opposition is trying to do now is get as much information as he can to assist—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The deputy leader is warned for the second and final time.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —in their secret plans to privatise SA Water.

The SPEAKER: Treasurer, point of order.

Mr PISONI: The minister is not responsible for the Leader of the Opposition. He continually refers to the Leader of the Opposition, and he is not responsible for the Leader of the Opposition.

The SPEAKER: It is true. It is true that the Treasurer is not responsible to the house for the Leader of the Opposition—not, not, not responsible.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: No, sir, but gee, we don't want to change him. We like him just the way he is.

The SPEAKER: And accordingly I warn the—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Thank you, sir.

The SPEAKER: —Treasurer a first time.

The Hon. J.R. Rau: Don't go changing.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Don't go changing, yes. No, the government won't be releasing modelling that we do, but we have a very transparent system. The pricing orders that are issued are gazetted and made public, and the public have plenty of transparency in the way water pricing and the dividends are calculated.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: They are. As I said, the reforms we have made have been quite significant. Independent regulation and the licensing of the water industry instigated by ESCOSA under the Water Industry Act are reforms this government has undertaken.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I am not going to assist the opposition, Mr Speaker, in their plans to privatise SA Water. The reason they want—

The SPEAKER: So, the answer is that you're not tabling them. Thank you. The leader.