Water Pricing

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:54): Supplementary: why did the Treasurer instruct Stephen Mullighan to seek the effect on SA Water revenue caps of various asset valuation increases of 5 per cent, 10 per cent and 15 per cent?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:55): I cannot speak for decisions or supposed requests made. Let's first point out to the house that we had not confirmed that those requests actually occurred and if the Leader of the Opposition has evidence, other than the testimony of Dr Kerin, I would like to see it. Again I say to the house: judge the government on its actions. The government is entitled to inquire into any course of action it sees fit because the role of the independent regulator is to regulate, not to set policy. It is a role of the elected government to set policy and if the Liberal Party is seeking to outsource policymaking to unelected officials, that is their business. It is not the role of the government, in this government's view.