Energy Market

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): Given that the Premier has told the parliament that he has both sought and received advice regarding sovereign risk, can he outline to the parliament who provided that advice to the government, when was it provided and can he table that advice and tell the people of South Australia what that sovereign risk is?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:19): I said nothing of the sort. I said we had sought advice. In relation to sovereign risk, in relation to all of those matters—the reopening of a coal-fired power station, banning gas, implementing a nuclear power station and cravenly cowering to the federal government when it said to cut our renewable energy target. I wouldn't mind if this was just the product of an overactive imagination by the Leader of the Opposition, but what it was the product of was just cowardice—

Mr Marshall: Have you sought advice?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —cowardice and incompetence—white-knuckle panic about Nick Xenophon in the South-East with their ban on gas. Cravenly laying down in front of the Prime Minister when he and his mates were handing around lumps of coal, and then, of course, when the list of donors send their open letter in The Australian criticising the Leader of the Opposition about nuclear power and shutting down the day, what does he do? He throws them a fig leaf about nuclear power. What on earth was he talking about?

Mr Wingard interjecting:

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

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: And finally, Mr Speaker—

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order: the Premier is debating the substance of the question. He is not answering it at all.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I think he is debating the question. Does he have any information to offer?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I will wrap up with this, Mr Speaker, and what we need here. The greatest risk, the greatest sovereign risk that exists at the moment in South Australia is from a Leader of the Opposition who is engaging in the most chaotic and incompetent policy formulation on the run that we have ever seen.

Members interjecting:

Mr GARDNER: Point of order: the Premier is defying your ruling once again.

The SPEAKER: I call to order the members for Morialta, Newland and Mitchell. I warn for the second and final time the member for Chaffey, the deputy leader and the Treasurer, and I call to order the member for Wright whose offence was that much greater for interjecting out of her seat. The leader.