Question Time

Electricity Prices

Mr BELL (Mount Gambier) (14:56): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier explain how the Hamilton's Run dairy in my electorate is going to afford the increase in electricity pricing from $45,000 last year to $70,000 this year, a $25,000 increase?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy) (14:57): The member should of course pass to that dairy operator the government's Our Energy Plan and then speak to that constituent about the possibility of more gas exploration in the South-East of South Australia, creating a more liquid gas market. I welcome the support of the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Mount Gambier for exploring for conventional wells in the South-East. The Leader of the Opposition shakes his head. Has there been a change of policy again?

I say to that constituent that our procurement for a new competitor into South Australia using our energy buy will bring new competition to the market. Pelican Point opening today will of course bring in more competition and the forward price, with the announcement effect of Pelican Point, with the announcement effect of the energy security target, with the announcement effect of a new generator being built by a new competitor in South Australia, the announcement effect of a royalty return program and the announcement effect of a grid-scale battery. All these things will begin to lower prices. The people who say that it will lower prices are not just the Premier and myself and not just BHP and the other groups that have endorsed our plan. It is Danny Price from Frontier Economics.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: No parliament in Australia has to deal with a leader of the opposition this out of control. Ultimately, an energy plan will put downward pressure on prices and increase competition, as opposed to a ban on gas, a ban on exploration of gas and no policy to incentivise new investment. There is a policy vacuum opposite.

I say to the member opposite to tell his constituent that help is on its way—despite members just yelling abuse without an alternative, without a plan, without a policy. Hope is not a strategy. Members opposite sit over there hoping the lights go out, hoping prices go up, hoping bad things happen to South Australia and offer no alternative. All they do is come to parliament in question time and yell abuse and shout, be disorderly and offer no alternative policy.

Mr PISONI: Point of order: the minister has entered into debate.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I uphold the member for Unley's point of order.