Electricity Prices

Mr WILLIAMS (MacKillop) (14:51): Supplementary, if I may, to the Minister for Energy: given that the minister accepts ESCOSA's independent advice that the closure of the Northern power station has had a significant impact on the price of electricity in South Australia, does he now regret that he didn't take the opportunity to keep that power station open at a fraction of the cost that his government now intends to expend on electricity in South Australia?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy) (14:51): No, I don't, because the cost wouldn't have ended at $25 million. It wouldn't have ended at that price because what would we have to pay AGL to keep its 1,200 megawatts? What would we pay Origin? What would we have to pay everyone in the National Electricity Market to keep operating?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: They can't even think ahead. They can't think ahead, and that's why they have no policies. Shouting across the chamber is not a substitute for policy. Shouting across the chamber is not a substitute for developing an alternative. The public of South Australia want a debate of ideas. We have released our energy plan. We have released our energy policy. Our energy policy is out there, and when it is implemented it will lower prices.

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Unley is warned a second and final time. There will be no further warnings.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: In the absence of an alternative, it's a bit rich for members opposite to be yelling across the chamber. I say this to the former deputy leader again and again: had it not been for the failure of a national mechanism, we would not have lost 5,000 megawatts across the entire National Electricity Market. Isn't it interesting—with the abolition of the carbon price, what have we seen? Prices dramatically increase. With the closure of the Port Augusta power station, what have we seen occur in South Australia? We have seen Pelican Point come back online. We are seeing a $30 million investment in the reblading of that generation.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I also point out to members opposite that when our plan is fully implemented it will bring prices down. Yelling across the chamber is not the norm in parliaments. Generally, when you are asked a question, you can respond. In response to this, in the absence of a policy, it is a bit rich to be criticised about the failure of the National Electricity Market. With the failure of the National Electricity Market, we have seen the Chief Scientist come up with an alternative plan to try to lower prices through a clean energy target, which is a lot like the energy security target, yet we can't get members opposite to even endorse the Finkel plan.

They won't even endorse that plan because they are waiting for the Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister won't even endorse the Finkel plan. So, they say, 'Wait for Finkel.' Finkel comes out, and then they say, 'Wait for the Prime Minister.' Well, where is the independent thought process opposite? Where is their own energy plan? They are waiting for their orders from Canberra. We've got our own plan, and our plan will work, and our plan will lower prices.

The SPEAKER: The question from the member for MacKillop was laden with comment and out of order, and the Treasurer's answer was out of order as debate, and both parties were consenting. The member for Finniss.