Solar Panels

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (14:52): My question is to the Premier. When was the Premier first informed that local manufacturer Tindo Solar had concerns with stage 2 of the VPP contract?

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart—Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:52): Let me just say that the Marshall Liberal government is very focused on supporting South Australian businesses. We have created, with the help of industry—the private sector—because unlike the previous government we know that we don't take credit for the jobs. Industry, business, creates those jobs. We are very, very focused—

Mr Picton: When was the Premier first informed?

The SPEAKER: The member for Kaurna is warned for a second and final time. The question was clear. I am hearing the answer.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: We are very focused on supporting local jobs, and we want to support Tindo, too. The reason that this is an issue is that the previous government, I am advised—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left and right, please. The minister has the call.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I would ask members to cease interjecting.

Mr Picton interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Kaurna, you are on two warnings. You will be departing shortly if this continues. Minister.

Mr Pederick: Hashtag #chuck him out.

The SPEAKER: Without a hashtag, member for Hammond. The minister has the call.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: I told Tindo that they would get up to 50 per cent of the panels installed under the Tesla VPP. Now, no wonder, Tindo is upset that that didn't happen, but there are people upset all over the length and breadth of this state because of broken promises from the previous government. We feel for Tindo. We want to do everything that we possibly we can to do that, and—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order: sir, the question is about relevance. The question was about when the Premier was first informed.

The SPEAKER: I do have the point of order. With respect to—

Mr Pederick: You've been here 21 years, Tom. You'll work it out.

The SPEAKER: The member for Hammond is called to order and warned. I have the point of order. It is a fair point of order but, in defence of the minister, there are interjections on both sides of the chamber.

Ms Cook interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Hurtle Vale, you can leave for half an hour under 137A.

Ms Cook interjecting:

The SPEAKER: You can leave under 137A for half an hour. Thank you.

The honourable member for Hurtle Vale having withdrawn from the chamber:

The SPEAKER: I am trying to listen to the minister's question. I ask him to stick to the substance of the question.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: There are two home battery and solar programs being run in South Australia at the moment, one which we developed from opposition and are rolling out in government, which is going extremely well. There is another one, which the previous government developed following our policy announcement, which we decided that we would pursue also. So credit to them for copying us and wanting to come up with another home battery and solar scheme.

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Credit to us for actually saying that we will do everything that we can to roll out both of them. In rolling out both of them, we are rolling out one under the conditions that we developed, and one under the conditions that they developed.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: Careful, careful.

The SPEAKER: Order!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I am listening to the answer. Member for West Torrens, you have asked your question; you are on two warnings. Members on my right, please do not provoke the member for West Torrens.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: Thank you for your protection, sir.

The SPEAKER: You are welcome. Minister.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: The rollout of what is essentially called the Tesla VPP is largely controlled by the conditions which the previous government developed for that—the contracts that they entered into that. The selection of the panel providers is done by Tesla under an open and transparent tender process.

Because the previous government said that Tindo would have this head start but then did not put anything like that into the program, it is up to the previous government to explain why they did that. I can explain that what we are doing is dealing with this as appropriately as possible with the conditions as we received them. We are honouring commitments that the previous government made on behalf of this state.

Very recently, Tesla completed their tender with regard to which companies would be the panel providers. They chose three companies as successful bidders—three of the five tier 1 companies recognised worldwide. They made that decision, without me knowing the intimate details of the process, with regard to warranties. So these three companies, for example, have a 25-year warranty with regard to the quality of these panels and with regard to the price of these panels. Local content is a consideration as well. In fact, there is a flexibility with regard to the price on local content. It is important to understand that to make the program work, to deliver—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: The point of order is for debate?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes, sir.

The SPEAKER: It was about concerns.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Relevance, sir. But when was the Premier informed?

The SPEAKER: Yes, I have the point of order. Minister, I ask you to come back to the substance of the question.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: To answer the question properly about when he may have been informed, it is important to understand the process leading up to that information.

The SPEAKER: Yes.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Very recently, Tesla has just decided—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: They have chosen three worldwide-recognised programs.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Premier and the Deputy Premier are not assisting here.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: The decision was made extremely recently, and the government was advised very recently of Tesla's decision.

The SPEAKER: I will come back to the member for West Torrens. The member for Narungga has been patiently waiting.