Alinta Energy

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (14:17): Given the Treasurer's assertion that Leigh Creek was running out of coal, why does the State Development website say this morning that there are actually 100 million tonnes of coal available at Leigh Creek?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy) (14:17): Not my assertion, sir: Jeff Dimery's assertion, the people actually running the coalmine. Let's imagine that the member opposite is right, that there are vast amounts of coal there. Where is the private coal operator mining the coal for export? There is a rail line to a port. Where is the private operator?

Of course, we know that coal-fired power stations use very specific types of coal. That coal can't be used anywhere else. That's what Mr Dimery is talking about. Members opposite should know this. If the shadow mining minister doesn't know that that coalmine was running out of coal for that mine, and suggests that Mr Dimery is not misleading the market and that Mr Dimery is being honest about what's in there, either the opposition is calling Mr Dimery a liar or they don't understand.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Before we go to a supplementary, the member for Kavel is warned, the member for Hammond is called to order and warned and the member for Mitchell is warned for the second and the last time.