Household Appliances, Demand-Response Standards

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (15:03): My question is to the Minister for Mining and Energy. Did the minister mislead the public regarding any government decision to bring forward new demand-response standards for household appliances as part of a policy agreed at COAG? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: On 15 April this year, the minister publicly stated, and I quote, 'I never expressed any keenness at all,' in regard to these new standards. However, yesterday in the Budget and Finance Committee, the Department for Energy and Mining said in their evidence:

The former COAG Energy Council had endorsed a decision regulatory impact statement including demand response capability into a number of appliances: air conditioning, pool pumps, hot water services and electric vehicle chargers. I will have to check the date on that, but it was a year or so ago. What we have gone out for consultation with industry is bringing forward those requirements to apply in South Australia earlier than the commonwealth timetable that was included in the DRIS.

The department was then asked by a committee member: 'Did he (the minister) approve of the consultation that you were conducting and the measures you were conducting them on?' The response from the department was, and I quote, 'Yes.'

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens will cease interjecting. The minister will resume his seat for a moment. The member for Schubert is warned. The member for Kaurna is warned for a second time. The Minister for Energy and Mining has the call.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart—Minister for Energy and Mining) (15:05): I missed if there was any difference between the question just asked and the question previously asked. I did notice that there was a difference in the information provided when the member sought leave to provide some additional information, but I think essentially it's the same question, so I refer the member for West Torrens and the chamber to my previous answer.