Olympic Dam

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:11): A supplementary: can the Premier tell us whether he has made contact with Andrew Mackenzie subsequent to him making those comments in the press on 23 February?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy) (14:11): Yes, the government has been in contact with BHP subsequent to those—

Mr Marshall: The question was for the Premier.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: We are the government—in a large part, thanks to you. We contacted BHP immediately after the statements by Mr Mackenzie again reiterating our support for BHP and our support for an eventual expansion. But, of course, the Premier is absolutely correct: there have been a number of times when BHP have promised to expand—

Mr Knoll interjecting:

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

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —the Olympic Dam mine and, of course, on two occasions BHP have not proceeded with that expansion. This government has done everything we possibly can to facilitate the expansion and development of our mineral resources and energy. We have, I think, an unblemished record in our support for the mining industry.

We don't propose to ban any form of mining. We don't propose to ban the exploration of gas. What we do is support companies like BHP. What we do with companies like BHP is give them indentures. We give them guarantee, certainty and a rule of law so that they can invest with certainty. We give them unprecedented certainty.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I have to say that members opposite interjecting, in the absence of a policy alternative, show you exactly where the Liberal Party is. Fake laughter and interjections are not a substitute for a policy. At the last election, members opposite went to the polls and to the people of South Australia without a resources policy, and now they attempt to lecture us.

Mr PISONI: Point of order, sir: the minister has introduced debate by referring to—

The SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order. I thank the member for Unley. In that pause created by the member for Unley, I call to order the members for Stuart, Mount Gambier and Morialta. I warn for the first time the members for Hammond and Stuart, and I warn for the second and final time the leader, the deputy leader and the member for Hammond. Has the minister finished? No.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Much more.

Mr Whetstone: The minister for blackouts.

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

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader is on a full set of warnings.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Yes, I know what the question was. If the leader interjects again, he will be leaving. Minister.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The government has been in contact with BHP and we have reiterated our support for BHP. As I say again, we agree with BHP that there needs to be a national approach to reform. We agree with Andrew Mackenzie when he says there needs to be reform of the National Electricity Market. We agree with BHP when they say carbon needs to be priced. We agree with BHP when they support measures like an energy intensity scheme. We agree with BHP when they say things like the National Electricity Market are not serving the people of this nation and there needs to be reform.

Who is not supportive of Andrew Mackenzie's comments? Members opposite who say, 'All is well. The National Electricity Market is fantastic, working beautifully. Beautiful thermal coal-fired generation—

The SPEAKER: Minister, members opposite haven't held office since February 2002. I don't think they are relevant to this answer.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Thank you, sir. We have seen in jurisdictions like New South Wales, which has one of the largest reliance on coal generation in the world—

The Hon. J.W. Weatherill: 2,000 megawatts.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: 2,000 megawatts, I am advised, they were short and they had to shed one of their largest employers and one of the largest loads they have in New South Wales, the Tomago smelter. We saw the National Electricity Market attempt to take power away from the people of Victoria to keep the lights on in the North Shore—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —but apparently, according to members opposite, all is well.

The SPEAKER: The member for Mitchell is called to order and the members for Morialta and Mount Gambier are warned a first time. The leader.