Generators

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (14:39): A supplementary, sir. Given that the minister has said he has not secured a gas contract to operate the generators on gas, how is it that he can confirm that he has already decided to purchase the generators when he has no gas to run them?

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy) (14:39): Yes, my very good friend the Minister for Tourism, who enjoyed a great night last night watching the Socceroos and their tremendous victory, just pointed out the obvious absurdity of the question the shadow minister asked. When you buy a motor vehicle, you don't secure 20 years' worth of petrol on the purchase. You go buy it on the market, but you don't buy it in advance of buying the car, do you? This is the logic of members opposite. It really is getting pathetic. No wonder the shadow minister has been demoted, no wonder he has been benched.