Energy Security Target

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (14:24): Supplementary: did the Minister for Regional Development consult with any other employers in his electorate before determining that he supported the government's energy security target?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Frome—Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Local Government) (14:25): Mr Speaker—

Mr Goldsworthy interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Kavel is called to order.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: —everybody in this house is concerned about where energy prices are going. I hear nothing from the other side about solutions, opportunities or anything at all. All I hear is negativity.

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order: clearly, this is debate, and I would ask that the minister address the question as to who he has consulted.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I uphold the point of order. The opposition's policy or conduct is not in question.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: I take that on board, Mr Speaker. What I will say—

Mr Knoll interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is warned for the second and final time. He seems to wish to be ejected from the house under the sessional order.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: From my travels across all of regional South Australia, yes, there are concerns, but there are lots of comments out there about what the minister and this government are doing in regard to looking at security of power and to bring it down in the long term.

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: The member for Finniss might say, 'Put a battery in there,' but I have full faith in the way this government is going in addressing the power issue and the reliability and, in the long term, the power price will come down.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order: taking your advice that you gave me previously, I did wait for a full minute through the minister's answer and he has not yet addressed the substance of the question, which was: did he consult employers in his electorate before deciding that he would support the government in its energy security target?

The SPEAKER: I will listen carefully to the minister's answer, bearing in mind the strictures of the member for Stuart.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: I will just reinforce what I said a minute ago. I have discussions across all of regional South Australia when I am out there and we have our discussions within the cabinet. Again, I believe that the way this government is going, they are looking at the long-term viability, reliability and sustainability of energy prices in South Australia.