Carbon Emissions

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (14:32): My question again is to the Minister for Energy. Why has the government budgeted to increase carbon emissions from electricity generation in South Australia this financial year?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy) (14:32): We don't budget for it. Carbon is not priced, so the question is foolish. I think what he is attempting to try to trick me into saying is that the renewable energy target, which has no mechanism, which doesn't pay renewable energy to operate, despite what members opposite say to people—we don't pay a cent to renewable energy to operate—is paid by the commonwealth government. What he is saying is that he has taken into account, I think, the AEMO forecast for the amount of wind and sun we will have next financial year and claims that that's the target we have set. I think that is what he is doing. I am not quite sure where he is getting his question from, but given that carbon isn't priced in this country and, given that he doesn't support a carbon price, I am not sure how we can budget for a carbon price reduction.