Electricity Generation

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:15): Supplementary, sir: can the Premier guarantee to this house that this policy, when it's implemented, will ensure there will be no more blackouts in South Australia?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy) (14:15): Any politician who promises the people of this state or any jurisdiction anywhere in the world that there will never be a blackout because they can stop every tree limb from falling on a powerline, that they can stop weather—if the Leader of the Opposition is so adamant that he can stop all blackouts under any circumstances, he should say so. Make it up, make the commitment. Make the commitment right now. If he thinks he can ensure that the lights will never go out in any suburb in any jurisdiction anywhere in South Australia, he should say so.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Treasurer will be seated. The Leader of the Opposition won't be saying anything now because it would be contrary to standing orders.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Treasurer is called to order. Point of order.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Debate, Mr Speaker.

The SPEAKER: I'll listen to what the Treasurer has to say.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: As I said to the house yesterday, the majority of blackouts that occur in any jurisdiction—and South Australia is no different—is because of weather. It is an inconvenient truth. Members opposite don't like the answer. They think that when there's a hurricane in Queensland, there are no blackouts. That's not true. They think that when there's a heatwave in New South Wales, there is no load shedding. That's not true. They have load shedding. Of course, Victoria was nearly half out. They think that those things don't occur. What we have here is fake news—fake news.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —and that's the reality and laughing won't change a fact. The truth is that if this was so important to members opposite—

Members interjecting:

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

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Sir, no other parliament in Australia would put up with that behaviour—no other parliament. The leader is out of control, sir.

The SPEAKER: The leader is being sorely provoked.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Thank you very much, sir. Quite frankly, any politician promising that they can stop the weather by shouting, by screaming, that they can stop bushfires, can stop floods, they can stop a power outage, is lying.

Mr Whetstone interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey is warned.