Energy Prices

Mr BASHAM (Finniss) (14:25): My question is to the Minister for Energy and Mining.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: The man who found the pot of gold.

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens is warned.

Mr BASHAM: Can the minister update the house on how the Marshall Liberal government is lowering the cost of living for South Australians through reducing energy bills?

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart—Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:25): Thank you to the member for Finniss—

Ms Stinson interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Badcoe is warned.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —another government member of parliament sticking up for his electorate for lower cost of living. The member asked me specifically about electricity and you would know very well that—

Mr Boyer interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Wright!

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —we made a firm commitment to reduce the cost of electricity for all South Australians. We took that to the election; we are delivering it after the election. Of course, that is in stark contrast to what South Australians experienced in the lead-up to the election. In the previous two years leading up to the March 2018 election, South Australians unfortunately experienced a 26 per cent increase in their electricity. They experienced an average $477 per year per household increase in electricity bills in the two years leading up to the last election.

It has now been two years since the last election and things are very different. We have just seen Origin Energy announce a reduction for households of 5.6 per cent, an average $127 per year per household. We have just seen AGL announce a reduction. AGL is putting their electricity prices down 2.7 per cent, an average of $62 per year. This is, of course, in addition to the $62 that was delivered last financial year.

What we have seen so far under this government is for households that are getting the best deals available—a $190 per year per household average reduction in electricity bills.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: The leader yells out that it's meant to be $300—

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Point of order, sir: debate. The question was very specific: it was about government initiatives, not initiatives taken by non-government organisations.

The SPEAKER: I am listening carefully to the minister's contribution. I thank the member for Lee.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Of course, as the member for Lee knows very well, our Marshall Liberal government energy policies, in conjunction with industry, in conjunction with regulators, are delivering—

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee is on two warnings.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —these reductions. I did hear the leader interject. He said, 'It's meant to be $300.' Let me just share, for the benefit of this house. We are now 56 per cent of the way through our term in government and so far we have delivered 63 per cent of the savings in electricity costs that we said our policies would deliver in conjunction with industry and the regulators. So, true to our word, the Marshall Liberal government is delivering lower cost of living for South Australians. Whether it's reduced land tax, whether it's reduced water bills, whether it's reduced electricity costs, we are working across the board—reduced emergency services levies—we are making sure that under a Marshall Liberal government, South Australians are much better off.

We know that our Home Battery Scheme is supporting South Australians to receive cheaper electricity. We know that our grid-scale storage scheme is supporting South Australians to receive lower electricity prices. In fact, as we speak right now, the Tesla battery at Hornsdale is being tested. What was the biggest battery in the world we have made 50 per cent bigger in partnership with Tesla and Neoen, and that will save enormous amounts of money for South Australians.

We know that the interconnector will save an enormous amount of money. The interconnector between South Australia and New South Wales will deliver enormous electricity savings for all South Australians. It's about time the opposition stopped dilly-dallying and flip-flopping on this issue and agreed with the experts and also the government that that interconnector with New South Wales is vitally important for all South Australians.

Mr Pederick: You hate it.

The SPEAKER: I do not hate it, member for Hammond. I have no comment.