House of Assembly Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2) 53 2 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Energy Security Target Energy Security Target Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN House of Assembly Stuart 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 House of Assembly Frome Minister for Regional Development Minister for Local Government 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 House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The member for Kavel is called to order. The Hon. G.G. BROCK House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Yes, I uphold the point of order. The opposition's policy or conduct is not in question. The Hon. G.G. BROCK House of Assembly The Hon. G.G. BROCK: I take that on board, Mr Speaker. What I will say— Mr Knoll interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly 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.