Oil and Gas Sector

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (14:43): Can the Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy advise the house whether it is regular practice for the government, or his department, to award a petroleum exploration licence to a company simply on the strength of the quality of its agent or its representative?

The Hon. T.R. Kenyon interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Newland is warned for the second and final time. Minister.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:44): No, Mr Speaker. As I have said, we only issue exploration licences and retention licences to companies that we think are capable of carrying out the work—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Again, scoffing at the companies that have passed the bid process is an attack on the regulator. It is just an attack on the regulator, which lowers the standing of the state in the eyes of the industry. One of the great strengths of this industry is that it used to have bipartisan support, until the current Leader of the Opposition took over. He has brought the Liberal Party on the same page as the Greens—quite an effort. And I can see former premier Playford looking down with disgust about the way the current opposition thinks of their industry.

Mr PENGILLY: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Point of order, member for Finniss.

Mr PENGILLY: Sir, will you rule once again on whether the minister has entered into debate.

The SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I will be banning duck hunting, sir.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: That's right.

Mr Pisoni: Lame duck.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes, there is a lame duck in the house! There is a lame duck in the house, Mr Speaker! To the point of the question, there were five companies who first took their petroleum exploration licences before drilling anywhere else, but they all had experienced people to guide their operations. They are: Stuart Petroleum, Adelaide Energy, Ahava Energy, ACER and SAPEX.

We support start-ups, we support companies that take risks, and we support companies that bring people together to start a new venture under a new banner, under a new name but, obviously, the Liberal Party only wants the old establishment to have access to our exploration licences.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Well, the last part was out of order and, accordingly, I call the minister to order.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Supplementary question, sir.

The SPEAKER: Supplementary.