Electricity Generation

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:14): My question is to the Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy. How will the minister deliver his commitment that there will never be load shedding following the implementation of the government's plan?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:14): No, this is between you and me. This is about your lack of leadership and your inability to actually debate this issue.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Premier will be seated.

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order, sir: I do not know what has transpired between you and the Premier, but it is completely out of order to present that proposal to the parliament. Unless we want to hear from the Premier what is in discussion between you as Speaker and the Premier, then it is completely out of order.

The SPEAKER: The Premier was, of course, referring to the Leader of the Opposition. It would have been helpful if the Premier had called him that. Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Yes, I will, sir. I was responding to the cacophony of noise when I chose to respond to the question because I am pointing out what this is fundamentally about. It is leadership and the lack of it. It is about the future or the past. It is about self-sufficiency or kowtowing to Canberra. It is about a clean energy future or a party which is addicted to coal. This is a party led by a man who, on one of the most important public policy issues facing our state, wants to abdicate that particular policy to Canberra.

Let's just analyse that. What we are talking about is the state-based renewable energy target. The Leader of the Opposition wants to abolish it and say, 'Canberra will handle that.' At a point in time in the state's history when it is widely regarded that energy policy is amongst the most crucial issues facing our state, we are seeking to stand up and take responsibility, and those opposite are seeking to—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Will the Premier be seated for a moment. I am finding it hard to hear the Premier because of the shouting by the Leader of the Opposition. I warn the member for Mitchell and the leader for the second time, and if they make an utterance outside standing orders I will either eject them under the sessional orders or I will name them. The member for Unley knows the consequences of naming because he is at risk of an 11-day suspension. I don't want any more of this bellowing at ministers. If you have a point of order, take it. Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: This is a critically important debate. It is one where the South Australian government will stand up on behalf of South Australians. I won't be lectured to by somebody who in 2012 said to me, 'A premier who doesn't have the same focus on renewables as the former premier.'

Mr MARSHALL: Point of order, sir: I ask that you bring the Premier back to the substance of the question.

The SPEAKER: The Premier is finished.

Ms Sanderson: He sure is.

The SPEAKER: The member for Adelaide is called to order and warned.