Electricity Prices

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (14:17): My question is also to the Minister for Regional Development. Has the minister met with Nyrstar, as he has told this house on three previous occasions that he would; and, if so, has he been advised by Nyrstar (which is in the minister's own electorate) that increasing electricity prices may put the financial viability of their operations in jeopardy, even after completion of the current efficiency and environmental upgrades?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Frome—Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Local Government) (14:17): The member for Stuart has asked this question in this house previously and—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: Calm it down. Slow down. I indicated at that stage I was meeting with Nyrstar afterwards.

Mr van Holst Pellekaan: Three times, Geoff?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: Yes: and those three times I met as the member for Frome, as the local member, and the discussion has been with Nyrstar and the Minister for Energy.

Mr Gardner: That was a different person, was it?

The SPEAKER: The member for Morialta is on two warnings.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: As the Minister for Health, on behalf—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The deputy leader is on two warnings.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: Can I also say—

Mr Knoll interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is on two warnings.

Mr Gardner interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Morialta will depart the chamber for the next hour under the sessional order.

The honourable member for Morialta having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: I told the member for Stuart before about that position and the information comes back to me and it has been relayed to the Minister for Energy. Nyrstar and others have been working with the Minister for Energy very closely and, as the Minister for Health representing the Minister for Energy has indicated, this government is working very collaboratively with the federal government.

Ms Chapman: What does that have to do with it? Tell us what you tell yourself.

The SPEAKER: The deputy leader will depart the chamber for the next hour under the sessional order.

The honourable member for Bragg having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: As the members on the other side and as all of South Australia understand, electricity supplies were privatised many years ago and—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: The member for Finniss says we may be rocket scientists, but the electricity market in South Australia is now privately owned. The electricity market is—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: Slow down.

The SPEAKER: The minister will be seated. The member for Kaurna is called to order. The member for Hammond is warned a second time and the member for Newland is warned a second time.

Mr Pengilly: He wants his ministry back, sir.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: As the Minister for Energy—

Mr Pengilly: Kaurna wants one. Reynell wants one. Fisher wants one and Brocky has got it.

The SPEAKER: The member for Finniss has got one: a warning.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: He can have another one, too.

Members interjecting:

Mr van Holst Pellekaan: Let him answer.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: Thank you, member for Stuart. As the Minister for Energy has said in this place many times, we have to have a true national market. Currently, it is not a true national market. The member for Stuart is asking those questions, but we have to work through this together, and I think we need to be a bit more proactive on the other side.