Government Contracts

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (14:54): My question is to the Minister for Energy and Mining. Can the minister explain to the house why he would know what bidder is in the box seat to win a government tender while that process is still open? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Today on radio the minister said that H2U was, and I quote, 'One of the companies that was right in the box seat at the moment' regarding this tender.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my right!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister for Energy and Mining.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Energy and Mining has the call.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart—Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:55): This is something that was addressed already on radio—not the statement but the exact same question—so let me just say it again: it wasn't the only one. I actually mentioned two companies, and I said for very good reason that H2U has already announced a project. They intend to build a 70-100 megawatt electrolyser at Port Bonython. It is very straightforward to think that they would be in the running to apply to the Treasurer to access some of this land. I also mentioned Santos.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: You shouldn't be saying anything.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for West Torrens will cease interjecting.

The Hon. S.S. Marshall: Here we go again. They thought Keolis Downer was a major problem. The Auditor-General didn't agree with them.

The SPEAKER: The Premier will cease interjecting.

The Hon. V.A. Chapman: Yes. Look at Gillman. He's the expert.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. Chapman: What a joke!

The SPEAKER: The Deputy Premier!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The minister will resume his seat.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Members on my right and members on my left, this is not an occasion to engage in a conversation across the floor of the chamber. The Minister for Energy and Mining has the call.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: As the member said in his question, these are some of the companies. He said one of the companies because he only remembered one of the ones I mentioned. But these are some of the companies that are actually very likely to be in the running for this land. It makes perfect sense.

This is a project that has been very well publicised in the hydrogen development industry. Santos, as the member knows, has an agreement to operate the facility there, to export product. There are a number of companies that very obviously will have an interest in this.

If the member opposite is suggesting that the Department of Treasury and Finance is going to in any way step aside from its serious and genuine responsibility with regard to dealing with the disposal of this land, initially as we are at the moment in the expression of interest stage and presumably moving on through to a tender stage—and let's hope for our state's sake that we move through to disposing this land in a way that is beneficial for the taxpayer in many different ways.

Let's hope it is beneficial to the taxpayer with regard to an income for the land, beneficial to the taxpayer with regard to new industries being established on that land and beneficial for the taxpayers, particularly of Upper Spencer Gulf and Eyre Peninsula who no doubt want to have this land developed.

But if the member opposite is suggesting that DTF or the Treasurer in any way are going to be dealing with the disposal of this land inappropriately, then that is a very, very serious accusation—if that is what the member is saying. With regard to commenting on the fact that there are clearly, obviously, organisations that will be well placed to pursue this opportunity, that doesn't mean that any that are not mentioned are not well placed. As he said—'of those in the running'.

This is a very straightforward issue, and it does surprise me that anybody opposite would want to raise this issue or potentially accuse the Treasurer or the Department of Treasury and Finance of dealing with this disposal inappropriately given that those opposite had their experience with regard to the disposal of the Gillman land. If there's an accusation that the Treasurer or the Department of Treasury and Finance is in any way not going to deal with this appropriately then let the member come clean with that accusation.

The SPEAKER: Order! The time for answering the question has expired. Before I call the—

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee will cease interjecting.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for West Torrens will resume his seat for a moment. I warn the member for Schubert, I warn for a second time the member for Chaffey, I call to order the member for Colton, I warn the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, I warn the Deputy Premier, I warn the Premier. I remind all members that the member asking the question is entitled to be heard in silence and the minister answering the question is entitled to be heard in silence. The member for West Torrens is seeking the call.