Electricity Generation

Mr WILLIAMS (MacKillop) (14:39): Supplementary: I would like the minister to explain, if he thinks that the South Australian government policies in the Development Act are innocent in this matter, why his government changed the Development Act specifically to allow the approval for a number of wind farms, including one in my electorate, and then had the Development Act changed back to its former position?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy) (14:39): I think what the member is asking me is: why did we change the Development Act to fit in with the commonwealth policy that was bipartisan at the time? So, otherwise, we would have to actively oppose, or stop, renewable energy being built in the state. I am not sure how the opposition can say they support renewable energy and solar thermal but at the same time say that they are opposed to intermittent energy, opposed to the Development Act and opposed to the subsidy, but support the RET.

Again, it is this confused policy position the opposition have, where they say they support renewable energy only if it has storage. Solar thermal is still intermittent because all you need is a few days without sufficient sunlight to heat that storage—

Ms Sanderson interjecting:

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

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —and you have intermittent energy. If you take the Leader of the Opposition at his word that he opposes intermittent energy, how can you possibly support solar thermal? How can you?

Mr van Holst Pellekaan: What rubbish.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: 'What rubbish.' On the same day the Leader of the Opposition abandons as a policy position the renewable energy target in this state, I get a letter saying 'build more renewable energy' from the demoted shadow minister.

Mr van Holst Pellekaan: Perfectly consistent.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: 'Perfectly consistent.' It is as consistent as wanting a nuclear reactor without the dump it requires.

Mr PISONI: Point of order, sir: could I draw your attention to a breakdown in the timing system?

The SPEAKER: The one day I didn't bring the Crvena Zvezda stopwatch.

Mr Marshall: I think the time has elapsed, sir.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I suspect the time has elapsed. Deputy leader.