Alinta Energy

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (15:18): Given the minister's answer about the federal government and Holden, why didn't he accept Alinta's proposal to save the Northern Power Station?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy) (15:18): Again because if we subsidised one power station in times of higher peak demand, every power station would then of course ask for that same subsidy, to a point that the state would not be able to afford to do it. We would have rolling blackouts daily over summer, and on top of that you would see South Australia as a place where of course industry could not grow.

Imagine the scenario the opposition are talking about. The scenario is this: we subsidise Northern, they come on, they use tax dollars to operate after members opposite privatise them, they operate, and then AGL, Origin or Simply come to us and say, 'Tomorrow is going to be 45° and it has been 45° for the last three days in a row. Unless you pay us these payments, we're not going to turn on.'

Mr Whetstone: That's hypothetical.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: That's hypothetical—while bringing Northern back on, these are not hypothetical questions. They are completely—

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Unley is called to order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —adrift and at sea on energy policy. It is incoherent. Let's not forget that turning Northern on was not a suggestion of the shadow minister or the Leader of the Opposition, it was the federal resources minister. They are singing his tune. They can't stand up to Canberra. They never can. They can't say no. It was a thought bubble that they vomited onto the front page of—

Mr GARDNER: Point of order, Mr Speaker: standing order 98. The Treasurer is straying.

The SPEAKER: Treasurer, I uphold the point of order.