Electricity Interconnector

Mr ELLIS (Narungga) (14:46): My question is to the Minister for Energy and Mining. Can the minister update the house on the progress of the SA-New South Wales interconnector?

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart—Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:46): Yes, I can. Thank you to the member for Narungga. Like all MPs on this side of the house, he is very focused on getting electricity prices down for people in his electorate. It's a pleasure, actually, to update the house on the progress of the interconnector because it keeps moving forward and it keeps improving.

This week, the New South Wales government released its transmission investment strategy, which, unsurprisingly to those of us on this side of the house, supports the South Australian-New South Wales interconnector. This project has a very long history, starting quite a long time ago. But of course back in 2016, not very long ago at all, the then government, now opposition, supported this project very, very strongly.

I would have thought that we might have had some bipartisan support for this project, given their support for it. Over a year ago, we announced our energy policy and part of that was to have this interconnector put in place as quickly as possible. It was a great shame, though, that when we announced this policy the then government, now opposition, backflipped. They believed it was fantastic right up until we believed it was fantastic, and then they decided that it was terrible. They are the only ones—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —who think it's terrible.

The Hon. A. Piccolo interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Light is warned.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Since shortly before the election, when we asked ACIL Allen to do an independent assessment—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: How did that go for you?

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —which fully supported—

Mr Pederick: Old, flip-flop Tom.

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

Mr Duluk interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Waite is also called to order. The minister has the call.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Since we had an independent assessment of our energy policy, which supported the interconnector very strongly, other groups have come out in support as well. Since the election, we have had ElectraNet's draft report on the regulatory investment test for transmission.

Mr Picton interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Kaurna is called to order and warned for a first time.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: We have had AEMO's integrated system plan say that this interconnector will be beneficial for South Australia and New South Wales energy consumer states—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens is warned for a second and final time.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —interestingly, even more so for South Australians than for New South Wales' electricity consumers. We have had PwC and Jacobs do a report for the government, which came out in support and now of course we have the New South Wales government's report coming out favourably as well. So this is good news for South Australians.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: This is good news for South Australians. I don't think it would be too much for the opposition to go back to their original position and support for an interconnector and then they will be in line with everyone else. Everyone supports this project except for them. All sensible commentators are coming out and are very comfortable to share specific numbers based on specific modelling about the benefits for South Australians.

Another interesting feature of the work that the New South Wales government has had done for it and very recently released is that, just like the South Australian government, they decided to spend money to get the work going early. I have advised the house of this before today. We have committed money to get the early works done so that we can get the benefits as quickly as possible: things like the root of the program, environmental clearances, dealing with landholders. Just as we have done, the New South Wales government has decided to do exactly the same thing. We all want benefits for electricity consumers as quickly as possible. We want to import and export our often overabundant renewable energy.