Water Pricing

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:44): A supplementary, Mr Speaker: does the Treasurer agree—

The SPEAKER: No, that is the fourth supplementary.

Mr MARSHALL: We've not had many answers so far, sir. Does the Treasurer agree with Dr Paul Kerin's advice to the Budget and Finance Committee that the new regulated asset base valuation provided by Treasury will increase water prices in South Australia for the next 50 years?

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): Mr Speaker or Madam Deputy Speaker—is the slate clean now? Can I start again?

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Unfortunately, he has left the scorecard.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: He has left notes?

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Although his writing is hard to read.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: It is probably in Latin, ma'am.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Your side is very clear to read.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: No, I do not accept that because, as ESCOSA have pointed out, water pricing will not increase above CPI until the next determination.

Ms Redmond interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The member for Heysen is warned.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The problem is that if I take Dr Kerin's remarks as Liberal Party policy, which I suspect is what is coming, that is a massive blow to the budget.

Mr GARDNER: Point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. The Treasurer is now debating—standing order 98.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I think he has finished; is that right, Treasurer? Yes.