Electricity Supply

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (14:42): My question is to the Minister for Energy. Why does AEMO still warn of electricity supply shortfalls this summer and ASX still predict South Australia to have the most expensive electricity in the nation for years to come, even though both organisations are fully informed about the government's energy plans?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy) (14:42): Selective quoting of AEMO reports does no good—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: They can laugh all they like, Mr Speaker. The AEMO reports and, indeed their own words, say, 'Had it not been for the government's interventions, had it not been for the government's work and its energy plan, South Australia would be at severe risk of blackout.' But, of course, our reliability standards have lifted.

I am confident that what we have done to ensure more reliability and more production of electrons here in South Australia so we are less reliant on Victorian imports is a good thing. But, of course, the Liberal Party can't pose those questions about us without answering the questions that the Prime Minister poses of them. Banning unconventional gas lifts the prices of electricity, banning gas hurts the nation, yet the Liberal Party are proposing just such a policy.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order, sir: standing order 98. The minister is debating the substance of the question.

The SPEAKER: Has the minister finished?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes.