Emergency Services Levy

Mr MULLIGHAN (Lee) (14:21): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have a supplementary to the Premier. Does the Premier stand by his commitment on his Strong Plan website to reduce the emergency services levy to its previous level?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:21): We have been very clear about this. There was a $360 million hike that was put in place by those opposite when they removed the remission on the emergency services levy. We have made it very clear that we will putting that $360 million back in place as soon as possible. The first tranche of that will begin on 1 July, and that is because we want to provide relief.

Under the previous administration there was a massive increase in every single household's electricity bill, there was a massive increase in every single household's water bill in South Australia and, of course, as we know a massive increase in the emergency services levy. So we will be doing what those opposite failed to do: put the people of South Australia first with a $360 million injection back into the economy.

We are doing this to put more money back into the pockets of hardworking South Australians because, unlike those opposite, we know that when people are given that money they know how to spend it best, but those opposite believe that government knows how to spend it best. We would rather lower tax, lower costs and let people make their own decisions for themselves, for their families, for their business on how they spend their hard-earned money.