Port Augusta Power Stations

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (14:43): Given the Premier's answer, is he aware that the operation of the Sundrop Farms project requires the extraction of water and the return of brine from and to the gulf and also that the management of its own renewable electricity requires the Port Augusta power station to be in place, to allow those things to happen? If so, what is he and his government doing to allow those things to happen without the power station?

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): That is absolutely right—

There being a disturbance in the gallery:

The SPEAKER: Minister, could you be seated? It is prohibited to use flash photography. Would security please remove the gentleman with the red stripe?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: That's right, Mr Speaker, there was an arrangement with Sundrop Farms and Alinta Energy, and we are working through those. Alinta Energy has engaged with Sundrop, as has the government task force set up for the Upper Spencer Gulf region, to try and maintain that employment. I understand a solution has been found, and I understand that Alinta and Sundrop Farms are quite satisfied with the solutions that have been found. They have asked us not to make those public just yet, but I understand those solutions will be made public soon. When they are made public, I will bring that back, but that is the advice I have received. I do not have the details of the solution here with me, but I am happy to offer the member a briefing, because I know he is actually worried about his community, and he is interested in the long-term prospects of the jobs, not slogan shouting like the Leader of the Opposition.