Question Time

SA Water

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:44): My question is to the Premier. How will extracting more than $120 million in additional dividends from SA Water over three years help to reduce water prices?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:44): As I outlined to the people of South Australia in the lead-up to the election, and then immediately after the election followed through with, we are conducting at the moment a water price inquiry in South Australia.

Mr Malinauskas: After you have raided SA Water.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We appointed somebody to this important task as quickly as we possibly could, and we have done that because we wanted to get on and discover whether the previous government had in fact been cooking the books, because it was more than one director who said that the regulated asset base provided by Treasury to ESCOSA was essentially $2 billion overvalued. There was an inflated asset value of more than $2 billion.

If this turns out to be true—and we will wait to find out from the water pricing inquiry, which is currently underway—essentially, what we know therefore is that the previous government was doing all it could to insert another tax, another hit to the hip pocket of every single South Australian individual, family, household and small business in this state.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: By contrast, what we want to do is to reduce that burden on individuals, families, households and businesses in South Australia. That's why we are committed to the water pricing inquiry. That's why we are committed to removing all payroll tax for small businesses with an annual payroll of up to $1.5 million, which will come into effect on 1 January next year. That's why we are committed to a massive reduction in land tax in South Australia from mid-2020. That's why we have already passed through to people $360 million worth of cuts in emergency services levies—

Mr Malinauskas: And to pay for it you're raiding SA Water and jacking up Housing Trust rents.

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —right through until the end of this forward estimates. The Leader of the Opposition, of course, is concerned and he makes the point that this is going to hit people's pockets. Obviously he has a slightly smaller office than he had before, but there might be somebody who can give you a briefing because what you need to understand, sir, is that a water price determination has already been made. This does not in any way, shape or form affect water pricing in South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: And this is the problem for the Australian Labor Party. This is the person they decided to have as their leader—somebody who doesn't know how water pricing in South Australia—

The SPEAKER: There is a point of order by the member for West Torrens for debate.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: It's clearly debate, sir.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I respectfully—

Mr Duluk interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Is the member for Waite interjecting? I call him to order. Will the Premier please come back to the substance of the question. I think you were finishing up. He has concluded his answer. Before I call the member for Lee, I warn him for a first time. The member for Lee.

Members interjecting: