Home Battery Scheme

Mr TRELOAR (Flinders) (14:14): My question is to the Minister for Energy and Mining. Can the minister update the house on how the Marshall government's Home Battery Scheme is creating more jobs for South Australians?

Mr Boyer interjecting:

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

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart—Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:15): Yes, I can answer the question from the member for Flinders. It was a pleasure for me to be with the member for Flinders in his electorate not too long ago. He asked me to come and engage with some of his constituents and local employers, and we specifically discussed the Home Battery Scheme.

We also discussed how beneficial it would be for Ceduna and other small communities to be able to get cheaper electricity, more affordable electricity and more reliable electricity. I know this program will be very good for the member for Flinders' constituents, as it will be for people all over the state and constituents represented by those opposite. They won't say it in this place, but I know that those opposite are very keen for our policies to work for their constituents, and they should—

Mr Hughes interjecting:

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

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: If those opposite want to claim credit for the Home Battery Scheme, we will share that credit. No problem. It won't be hard to prove them wrong, but don't you worry, Mr Speaker.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Please do not respond to interjections, and please do not interject.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: I am very happy for every member of parliament to be spruiking the Home Battery Scheme because, on this side of the chamber, we want all South Australians to benefit from the Home Battery Scheme—

Mr Brown: Why is it capped?

The SPEAKER: The member for Playford is warned.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —including with regard to the very important job creation benefits of the Home Battery Scheme, which the member for Flinders asked about. It was a pleasure for me yesterday to be with the Premier to launch the new production facility for Alpha ESS down at Lonsdale. It was a tremendous day to be down there to launch not only their new production facility, where they will shortly employ 80 to 100 South Australians in new jobs that would not exist if it were not for this scheme, but also ShineHub's partnership with Alpha ESS and their virtual power plant.

ShineHub is talking about the capacity to offer South Australians a flat $1 per day electricity bill through their virtual power plant—a tremendous development. As well as a requirement to deliver more affordable, more reliable and cleaner electricity for all South Australians, one of the things we did was bring new jobs into the state. Those opposite might be aware of the new manufacturing facility that Sonnen has at Elizabeth and now the new production facility that Alpha ESS has down at Lonsdale. We are working for all South Australians. Those two areas—

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell: Kangaroo Island can't get it.

The SPEAKER: The member for Mawson is warned.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —are Labor-held electorates. We are working for all South Australians with this program. There are 80 to 100 new jobs down there at Lonsdale with Alpha ESS. They will, for the balance of 2019, produce approximately 500 small batteries per month. They will, throughout 2020, produce approximately 1,000 home batteries per month, and they have the capacity in the facility to expand to up to 2,500 home batteries per month.

They recognise the value of this scheme not only to South Australia as a whole but to their customers and to their business. The 80 to 100 jobs are set for the 1,000 batteries per month production level. When they exceed that, the employment will exceed that as well. Others opposite can share and discuss the benefits of it throughout their electorates. The Home Battery Scheme is working for all South Australians—more affordable, more reliable and cleaner electricity throughout the state.