Power Infrastructure

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (14:53): My question is again to the Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy. Why did the minister advise the media yesterday that he was not expecting any electricity supply problems despite the widely broadcast and accurate weather forecasts?

The Hon. P. Caica: You've got to be able to distribute it, you goose.

The SPEAKER: The member for Colton is called to order and he will withdraw and apologise the application of the term 'goose' to the member for Stuart.

The Hon. P. CAICA: I apologise and withdraw for calling the member for Stuart a goose.

An honourable member: Come on, we're not allowed to do that. We're not allowed to respond like that.

The SPEAKER: Well, you are.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy) (14:54): I wasn't expecting tornadoes to rip through 23 towers, cutting the spine of our transmission lines between the city and the Mid North. I wasn't expecting 80,000 lightning strikes hitting directly on Torrens Island Power Station.

As much as people want to assign blame for this—and no doubt they want to assign blame for a political point—I point out to the house that these winds took out 23 towers. Equivalent winds rushing through Queensland in cyclones have not done this type of damage. We are talking about towers being buckled over like they are liquorice, and I have to say that type of event wasn't anticipated.

No-one anticipated our entire transmission spine being cut in half and being on the ground. I have to say that there is no politician anywhere in the world who can guarantee any type of infrastructure to deal with that kind of natural event, and anyone who says that they can is lying.