Alinta Energy

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (14:40): My question is for the Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy. Given the Alinta power generation business in Port Augusta will close on 31 March and that one of Alinta's legislated obligations is to remove the three existing power stations on the site and remediate the land to a condition comparable to never having had power stations built there, when will the government announce its future intention for the site?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:40): Yes, Alinta does have a number of obligations with regard to the remediation of both the Port Augusta and Leigh Creek sites, and the closure plan will require the assessment and determination of environmental risks at both the power stations and the mine, and that is appropriate. It includes the removal of chemicals and hazardous material on the sites. The closure of the power station and the associated mines, as well as related infrastructure, is a complicated matter and takes into account many factors, including employment implications and service provisions for the community, specifically, of course, at Leigh Creek.

The rehabilitation of the sites is subject to several South Australian acts, and Alinta has committed to meeting obligations in regard to remediation, and the Alinta Energy Task Force, which I know is happy to engage regularly with the local member of parliament and the shadow minister, will take an active role in ensuring that these obligations are met; and as more information comes to light and more information becomes available to the public we will make that publicly available.

We actually think that, in light of the closure, the remediation can actually offer opportunities for employment and can offer opportunities for alternative business proposals, as we have seen with Sundrop. But, of course, we will have more to say about that as we are negotiating with Alinta because it has a very keen incentive to work cooperatively with the government, given its requirements to remediate, but if the local member and the local community have—

Mr van Holst Pellekaan: When will you announce the intention—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: We will. We are negotiating with the companies, but we would like more feedback from the local community and we are working very properly with the local council. So, rather than this sort of setting arbitrary deadlines and time lines, we want to make sure that we do this properly for the benefit for everyone in the Upper Spencer Gulf.

Mr Gardner interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I know members want to yell out interjections thinking that it somehow contributes to the debate: it doesn't. All it does is just show that you are not interested in actually getting an outcome. It's just political pointscoring.

Mr Knoll interjecting:

Mr GARDNER: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: The point of order is?

Mr GARDNER: I was going to point out debate, but the minister seems to have finished.

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is warned for the second and final time. Leader.