Question Time

Electricity Prices

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:21): My question is to the Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy. Can the minister explain to the house why South Australian households have more outstanding electricity debt, more hardship repayment plans in place and more forced electricity disconnections than any other state in the nation on a per capita basis?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy) (14:21): There was a report commissioned and I think conducted by St Vincent de Paul into this and that report showed that South Australia did have a high number of disconnections on a per capita basis, but basically very closely correlated to Victoria's. Victoria, obviously, have a very different price structure because they have greater interconnection into the New South Wales and Tasmanian markets as well as South Australia.

One of the highlights of that report that the Leader of the Opposition is not quoting is the report found that there was no direct link to electricity prices from disconnections, and that in fact there are broader questions to be asked about that. Yes, unemployment is an issue—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Laughing at the unemployment rate is beneath the Leader of the Opposition—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —and interjecting across the chamber without offering alternatives really is a sign of how little regard the Leader of the Opposition is held in this place. So, it is not fair to say that these are linked to electricity prices, because the report that I think the member was quoting from says so in one of its findings.

Mr Marshall: But that wasn't the question. Why didn't you answer the question? It said, 'Can you explain why?'

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: Interjecting doesn't make it any better. It's still a bad question.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Treasurer is warned. The member for Mitchell is called to order, as are the members for Stuart and Kavel, and the Leader is warned a first time. The member for Torrens.