State Energy Plan

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (14:27): My question is to the Premier. Could he update the house on what the response has been from everyday South Australians to the government's energy plan?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:27): It is four weeks since we released the energy plan, and the opposition have hauled up the white flag in opposition to the energy plan. Here it is: the energy plan. They haven't got a question left to ask about it four weeks in. Members on our side of the chamber have been busy going out to their electorates over the last four weeks, telling constituents about our plan to take charge of our energy future. My office has been inundated with calls, letters, emails—people giving us positive feedback about this plan.

We have had more than 45,000 visitors to the Our Energy Plan website, and our video explaining the plan has reached an audience of 534,000 people. Most importantly, we have been out there speaking to everyday South Australians about our plan—hundreds of conversations. It has been undertaken by every member of this government. I was taking the Outer Harbor line train just the other day, chatting to people, and also handing out leaflets at the Adelaide Railway Station. There were lots of people coming up. Yesterday, I joined the member for Light at the Gawler Railway Station, and we also went and saw parents and teachers at Hewett Primary School.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Premier, would you be seated. We have had a rollicking good time in the last minute. I now would like the Premier's answer to be heard in silence, provided he does not unduly provoke the opposition.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I spoke with residents in Whyalla, Clare and Port Pirie and the surrounding regions, courtesy of the member for Frome and the country cabinet we held there. We were at the Grange train station with the member there, at Henley Square in my old neighbourhood and also at Fulham Gardens Primary School.

The feedback we have received from ordinary South Australians has been overwhelmingly positive. People have been saying to me unprompted that they want South Australia to stand on its own two feet. They want to be less reliant on the Eastern States. They don't want to be at the mercy of a broken National Electricity Market. They are also telling me that they are sick to death of being screwed by large power companies with these extortionate prices that are being charged. They also understand that renewable energy is the future and they want us to invest in the nation's largest battery. They want us to invest in ultra high-speed gas turbines which permit us to provide peaking power but also stability services.

They have also told me that they believe electricity is a public good and should never have been privatised in the first place by those opposite. They also want us to make sure that we have the capacity for us to unlock our rich gas resources here in South Australia and they don't want it shipped off overseas. They want it to be used principally and first to secure our electricity security needs.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: They understand many of them are vulnerable and they are scared when the lights go out.

They are worried about making sure that there is energy security, and they want a government that is prepared to step up and take affirmative action on their part to secure their future. Just imagine somebody who is relying on oxygen and through the transmission of that, through an electricity network. Those disabled people at home are very fearful of their energy security, and it is with those ordinary South Australians this government stands up and protects.

The SPEAKER: I call to order the Treasurer, the member for Newland and the members for Chaffey, Adelaide, Mount Gambier, Hammond, Davenport and the deputy leader. I warn for the first time the members for Chaffey and Adelaide.