Question Time

Energy Prices

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): My question is to the Premier. Why has the electricity crisis in South Australia become so severe that, according to Foodbank SA, many families have been left to choose between paying their energy bills or feeding their family?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for the Arts) (14:20): I am surprised that the Leader of the Opposition returned to the question of electricity. I would have thought he would have been wanting to banish that thought a long way from his mind. Who can forget the disappearing $300 which then became $60 or $70?

Let's just talk about vulnerable people. What sort of message does it give to vulnerable people to get on the telephone and ring them up and promise them $300 in their pocket if you vote for them when, in fact, you knew all the time that that wasn't going to emerge; it would be $60 or $70 and it wouldn't happen for five years?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Vote for them not once, not twice—but twice to actually even see this money. The truth is that the authors of the crisis in the electricity market are the guilty party, the Liberal Party who privatised the Electricity Trust of South Australia. That is why we made the first and most important commitment of a re-elected Labor government to recreate the E&WS—a place where we can house our energy assets, our water assets, retaking control of the energy market to protect those same vulnerable people, those same vulnerable South Australians who the Leader of the Opposition cries crocodile tears for. We are supporting them by putting downward pressure on electricity prices through an energy plan which will take control of our energy future. This is our commitment to the people of South Australia.

Members interjecting:

Mr MARSHALL: A question to the Premier, sir?

The SPEAKER: Leader, would you be seated. That was a most unedifying display. Let's try again. Leader.