Generators

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:36): My question is to the Minister for Energy. Is the full cost of leasing and commissioning the nine diesel generators for one year, then buying them and then relocating them to another site, in excess of $400 million?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy) (14:36): I know the deputy leader has taken over from the shadow energy minister on this matter. One sentence and a slight overreaction. A bit of advice? Pretend it doesn't hurt.

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order: I don't know what's hurting for you, but that is unacceptable and I ask him to return to the substance of the question.

The SPEAKER: I'm sorry?

Ms CHAPMAN: Demanding that it doesn't hurt, to you, in this chamber, is not acceptable.

Mr Marshall: Unless you are not well, sir.

The SPEAKER: I'm not.

Ms CHAPMAN: I would ask him to return or actually start on the subject of the question.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: As much as I have tried to hurt you over the last 30 years, sir, I have been unable to.

The SPEAKER: Onwards and upwards.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: As we said earlier today, the brand-new aeroderivative generators will be the proud property of the South Australian public once again, having our own capacity to generate our own electricity for our own South Australians in times of need. The procurement of those generators is within the budget we have announced. The operation of those generators is within the budget we have announced.

I have to say, given that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has already flagged that if they are successful they will privatise these generators, the ink wasn't even dry on the contract and the deputy leader is reaching back into the 1990s.

The Hon. J.W. Weatherill: After an inquiry.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: After holding an inquiry—

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order: it's a very simple question. Has this cost more than $400 million or not? That's the question.

The SPEAKER: Yes, thank you. Treasurer.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: They have already announced that after a judicial inquiry into buying a generator they are considering privatising—

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order, Mr Speaker, again—

The SPEAKER: I have a point myself, but you go first.

Ms CHAPMAN: I am graciously indebted to your allowing me to do that, Mr Speaker. The point of order is obviously relevance and debate. You have just asked him, on the same material, to bring him into order, so I ask—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: You are saying it's irrelevant material?

Ms CHAPMAN: Both—and debate.

The SPEAKER: I warn the members for Morialta and Stuart, and I warn the member for Morialta for the second time. If I am not mistaken, I heard the member for Morialta say that the Treasurer was lying to the house.

Mr GARDNER: I withdraw and apologise.

The SPEAKER: Good, because in our house we are not allowed to say that one another are lying or liars.

An honourable member: Even if it's not true?

The SPEAKER: They can do that in the other place, owing to a proceeding there last year.

Mr Whetstone interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I'm sorry, the member for Chaffey, did you have a contribution?

Mr WHETSTONE: I said that the Treasurer can call a member of parliament a racist, but we can't call him a liar.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: No, I distinctly remember naming five opposition members for calling another member a racist and then the member for Chaffey withdrew the allegation that she was a racist and said that she only did racist things, whereupon his naming was revoked, so I don't think he is quite right on that.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Thank you, sir. It's obvious what is going on here: it's costing season and they are trying to work out how much they can sell these generators for. That's what they are trying to find out—how much can they sell them for? They are addicted to privatisation.

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order: it's a very simple question.

The SPEAKER: Point of order, deputy leader. I was just trying to get the Treasurer to complete his gag and then we could rule it out of order.

Ms CHAPMAN: Well, thank you, but—

The Hon. J.M. Rankine interjecting:

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

Ms CHAPMAN: I simply ask that you ask the Treasurer to come to the actual question and—

The SPEAKER: Let's not have an impromptu speech. The point is that the Treasurer is not being relevant and that he is debating the question. Is the Treasurer finished?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes.

The SPEAKER: Splendid. Deputy leader, supplementary.