Electricity Generation

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (14:30): My question is to the Minister for Energy. Was a probity officer present when the energy minister had personal and private discussions with energy retailers regarding the sale or lease of the state-owned generators prior to the public announcement yesterday?

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart—Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:30): First, I was very clear in my first answer that I have had discussions with organisations interested in accessing the generators. I also made it very clear in my first answer—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: Was a probity officer there?

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: I also made it very clear in my first answer that I was not disclosing whether I did or did not have discussions with retailers because that would get some people a bit hot under the collar, perhaps quite unnecessarily. I have been very clear about that. Let us just say very clearly—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for West Torrens is warned. If he keeps going, he will be departing. I would hate to ask him to leave the chamber if he has further questions to ask today. The minister has the call.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Let's just be very clear—

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —that the shadow minister's question is clearly in contravention—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —of standing order 97 because—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Deputy Premier and the leader will cease interjecting. The minister has the call.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: The shadow minister's question is clearly in contravention of standing order 97 because it contains—

The SPEAKER: I will determine that, and that is done by a point of order. Please answer the question, minister.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: While I reject that argument, if you take his supposition about who I met with out of it, my answer to the remaining part of the question is that I had appropriate officers with me in discussions when that was necessary.