Oil and Gas Sector

Mr PICTON (Kaurna) (14:28): My question is to the Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy. Will the minister inform the house on recent impediments to the development of the state's vital oil and gas sector?

Mr Whetstone interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey is warned a second and final time. He must remain silent during this answer.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:28): He's the only one we fear, sir. Let there be no mistake: across South Australia, we are seeing a concerted push by extremist groups and their parliamentary allies to rip investment out of the state's burgeoning oil and gas sector. Recently, we have seen this house speak out against a decision by the ANU to sell off its shares in resource companies, including Iluka Resources and South Australia's very own Santos, a position that was met with passionate opposition not only here in South Australia but across the country.

It was followed by South Australian Senator Sarah Hanson-Young embarking on what can only be called a reckless attack on Santos, as she rallied fellow extremist campaigners to argue that South Australian universities could do a great service to the people of South Australia by separating from fossil fuel companies.

The actions of extremist groups seeking to spread fear throughout the community present a clear and present danger to the expansion of our state's oil and gas sector. We will stand up against an extremist 'lock the gate' campaign; we will not let the blind ideology of a fringe element, and those who seek to exploit their support for political advancement, endanger our state's future.

There is no doubt that this government is proud to stand by the resources industry because this government recognises the vital role this expanding sector will play in growing our economy. We recognise it as our number one economic priority and to ensure that our state is recognised across the nation as the place where people and businesses thrive.

I have said it before and I will say it again: we are at the centre of an energy revolution with billions of dollars being spent in the search for oil and gas in South Australia. In 2013-14 there was nearly half a billion dollars of expenditure on gas exploration, threefold the exploration expenditure of just two years ago. These are exciting times for our state as, with investment, comes jobs and prosperity for our towns, cities and regional communities.

I find it ironic that, as the Premier and I were officially opening a new base for US energy services company Halliburton, which employs 200 new people here in South Australia—a clear sign of the growing confidence in the state's growing energy sector—members opposite jumped on the bandwagon calling for the establishment of an inquiry seeking to crush the oil and gas sector in this state.

The decision of the ANU and the actions of Sarah Hanson-Young pale into insignificance when it comes to those opposite supporting an inquiry into unconventional gas extraction. It is nothing more than a lack of political courage to stand up for science, to stand up for facts—

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point or order, sir: the minister is debating the question.

The SPEAKER: Yes, he may be.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I will listen carefully and, meanwhile, warn the member for Kavel.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Mr Speaker, don't take my word for it: there are bastions of socialist activity in the South Australian Chamber of Mines, Business SA, the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, Santos and Beach Energy who have all condemned the Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal Party. Business has turned its back on the Liberal Party in South Australia. They say desperate men do desperate things but I urge the Leader of the Opposition not to risk jobs in our state just to save his own.

Members interjecting:

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: And the point of order is?

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Debate again, sir.

The SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order.

Mr Gardner: Would you like a hearing tunnel, sir; one of those funnels?

The SPEAKER: I'm quite prepared to receive an ear horn as a gift of the opposition.

An honourable member: And we know where to put it, sir.

The SPEAKER: I think Billy Hughes may have had one; a politician I admire greatly.