Ministerial Statement

Extreme Weather Conditions

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:00): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I want to thank our remarkable emergency services personnel, who have yet again demonstrated their outstanding commitment by working throughout the night to provide critical assistance and services to the community. I am confident that I speak for all South Australians when I say that we are extremely grateful for their dedicated efforts.

I would also like to acknowledge that there are parts of our state, particularly in the north and Eyre Peninsula, that remain without power. These communities are our main concern, particularly the elderly and vulnerable citizens within those communities. I acknowledge those households, businesses and communities that are still affected by these ongoing events. I and other members of the cabinet will be visiting those areas to inspect the damage, to talk to the affected communities and to see what other assistance may need to be provided.

This is an unprecedented situation caused by extreme weather yesterday afternoon. About 80,000 lightning strikes occurred across South Australia, associated with an intense low pressure system, resulting in severe thunderstorms, tornadoes and destructive wind gusts. This caused catastrophic damage to our electricity infrastructure. More than 20 transmission towers were severely damaged, with some torn from the ground. This resulted in the loss of three separate 275-kilovolt powerlines. These lines form part of the backbone of the South Australian network and support supply and generation north of Adelaide.

This led to a sudden change in frequency in the state's power system and, in response, South Australia was isolated from the rest of the market in accordance with the protocols set by the Australian Energy Market Operator. To put this in simple terms, when there is a sudden change in frequency, as occurred yesterday, the system is designed to shut down to protect itself. This ensures there is no further damage to the system and allows the fault to be identified, isolated and repaired. This is a national electricity network operating as it was intended to operate.

What it does allow for is for us to begin to repower the system once the fault has been identified without causing further damage, and that is precisely what has occurred. Our advice is that power had been restored to more than 90 per cent of households across the state. About 75,000 homes remain without power, and we expect around 35,000 will come back online today. As I stated earlier, our focus remains on those parts of the state that are still without power. It is estimated that about 40,000 households in the north will remain affected for an extended period.

South Australia's emergency services agencies and people across the state are working tirelessly to ensure power is restored to those areas as soon as possible. I can also advise that the Australian Energy Market Operator has announced an inquiry into the technical issues surrounding the event. The AEMO will release an initial report on Monday which will be updated weekly for the following eight weeks. The COAG Energy Minister's Council will also review this incident at a national level.

I confirm that, once we have dealt with the immediate issues arising from this event, we will review the circumstances that occurred, including our response to this major incident. This review will be at arms length from the responding agencies. This is a necessary and normal response that government and agencies undertake under significant events such as this. As a result of the power outage and the extreme weather events, I can inform the house that we will be opening emergency service centres, including at the Lions Football Club in Port Pirie, the Port Augusta West Football Club and the Whyalla Hockey Association.

We will also establish other relief centres, as required, in other parts of the state, including the Clare Valley, Port Lincoln and West Coast. These arrangements are being finalised with the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion and the SES. The Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion has authorised the payment of emergency relief grants for anyone whose power was still off at noon today. This is $280 per adult, $140 per child, up to $700 per household. Anyone affected by extreme weather should call the Recovery Hotline on 1800 302 787.

I encourage people to check on relatives, friends and neighbours, particularly the sick, the elderly and the vulnerable, because there is nothing more important in these situations than looking after one another. This event has had a great impact for people and communities across the state; however, it has also demonstrated the resilience of South Australian people and their willingness to work together and to help one another in times of need.

Mr GARDNER: Sir, as a matter of course, can I ask that the opposition be provided with a copy of the ministerial statement. Presumably, it is at the printers at the moment.

The SPEAKER: Premier, the situation is that the printed—

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I said at the start that the copies were being brought in.

The SPEAKER: The copies will be brought in.