House of Assembly Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2) 53 2 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Electricity Prices Electricity Prices Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN House of Assembly Stuart 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 House of Assembly Frome Minister for Regional Development Minister for Local Government Electricity Prices 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 House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly Mr van Holst Pellekaan: Three times, Geoff? The Hon. G.G. BROCK House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly Mr Gardner: That was a different person, was it? The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The member for Morialta is on two warnings. The Hon. G.G. BROCK House of Assembly The Hon. G.G. BROCK: As the Minister for Health, on behalf— Ms Chapman interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The deputy leader is on two warnings. The Hon. G.G. BROCK House of Assembly The Hon. G.G. BROCK: Can I also say— Mr Knoll interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is on two warnings. Mr Gardner interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly 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 The honourable member for Morialta having withdrawn from the chamber: The Hon.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 House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly Ms Chapman: What does that have to do with it? Tell us what you tell yourself. The Speaker House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly The Hon. G.G. BROCK: Slow down. The Speaker House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly Mr Pengilly: He wants his ministry back, sir. The Hon. G.G. BROCK House of Assembly The Hon. G.G. BROCK: As the Minister for Energy— Mr Pengilly House of Assembly Mr Pengilly: Kaurna wants one. Reynell wants one. Fisher wants one and Brocky has got it. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The member for Finniss has got one: a warning. The Hon. G.G. BROCK House of Assembly The Hon. G.G. BROCK: He can have another one, too. Members interjecting: Mr van Holst Pellekaan House of Assembly Mr van Holst Pellekaan: Let him answer. The Hon. G.G. BROCK House of Assembly 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.