State Energy Plan

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (14:54): Supplementary, sir.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: When your colleagues cease interjecting. Member for Stuart.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Given the minister's answer, can he tell the house whether the $150 million that the government has allocated for the 100 megawatts of batteries includes the cost of disposal of the batteries when they reach the end of their life in five to 10 years?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy) (14:55): We won't own the battery, which I made clear in my speech. Again I would say to the member: please listen to the remarks I made. Secondly, we won't be using the entire $150 million. If you read the plan, the plan includes $75 million—

Mr van Holst Pellekaan: Just answer the question.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I am answering the question. The plan includes $75 million for low-interest loans and $75 million for the grants. The state won't own the battery: we will have a contract with the battery. The battery will be owned by the private sector. It will be their responsibility to dispose of the battery. I find it amazing that the members who sold our electricity assets are now opposed to us reinvesting in a gas-fired power station—

Mr GARDNER: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: Point of order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —and now have confused—

The SPEAKER: Point of order.

Mr GARDNER: Point of order: standing order 98, and the Treasurer continuing to talk while you have called a point of order is actually obstructing the house as well.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: No, the Treasurer has already told me how to do my job several times today. The member for Colton is called to order—

Ms Chapman: He should resign.

The SPEAKER: The Treasurer or me?

Ms Chapman: You, sir. Join the Bedford party.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Wright is warned for the second and final time.