Project EnergyConnect

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen) (15:07): My question is to the Minister for Energy and Mining. Can the minister please update the house on how interconnection with New South Wales, Project EnergyConnect, is securing jobs in regional South Australia?

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart—Minister for Energy and Mining) (15:07): Thank you very much to the member for Heysen for his keen interest in our electricity system, his keen interest on behalf of his electorate, the people of Heysen, and of course everybody else in the state, who are enjoying cheaper electricity since the last election, who are enjoying fewer blackouts—in fact, no blackouts—due to lack of supply or instability of the grid and, of course, as I know is also important to the member for Heysen and his electorate and all South Australians, cleaner, lower remission electricity. We are now—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —this calendar year, at just a little bit over 60 per cent renewable energy across South Australia, generated. The interconnector, as those opposite know, plays a very important part of our policies. We have multipronged energy policies which are working. We are looking at small-scale storage, large-scale storage, demand management trials.

When I say 'we', it is very important that I always remind those opposite that 'we' includes industry and it includes consumers. We have a holistic approach to getting the energy system right in South Australia so that it works for South Australian electricity consumers, from the smallest household to the largest employer in the state. This is in stark contrast to what was happening a few years ago, when we saw skyrocketing prices, a statewide blackout and many others.

One of the extremely important prongs of our energy policy is the interconnector with New South Wales, which we are incredibly pleased is proceeding. Those opposite have had a huge range of views. The Leader of the Opposition was guessing on a policy—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order: standing order 98. The minister is not responsible for any Labor Party policies or the Leader of the Opposition's public comments. He's responsible only to the house for his government's policies.

The SPEAKER: That may be, but I think the minister is providing some context.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: This interconnector was a topic of great debate, so it's only fair that we share some of those views. The Leader of the Opposition was guessing the policy, the member who just raised the point of order has always opposed it, the member for Lee said it was a terrible idea—

The SPEAKER: Minister, I do bring you to the substance of the question.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: —and the member for Port Adelaide said they have never opposed it. What is most important, and I appreciate your indulgence, is that the interconnector is going to go ahead.

We have reached a fantastic milestone with two companies, two important companies, being contracted to undertake this work. Downer Utilities Australia has been awarded the transmission lines contract, which includes about 200 kilometres of new transmission line between the South Australia-New South Wales border and the new Bundey substation, near Robertstown, and around 10 kilometres of new transmission line between Robertstown and the Bundey substation.

A South Australian Adelaide-based company Consolidated Power Projects has been awarded the substation contract. Consolidated Power Projects will build the new Bundey substation as well as undertake augmentation works at the existing Robertstown and Tungkillo substations. This is absolutely fantastic that these companies are winning this work. It's important that the project is taking demonstrable steps forward.

We know that, on top of the $303 per year average reduction in electricity cost for South Australian households, this interconnector will deliver an additional $100 per year for South Australian households, an absolutely outstanding result. The jobs that come with this, the 200 jobs primarily in regional South Australia, are another fantastic bonus—in logistics, concrete, reinforcing steel, accommodation, plant equipment, labour hire and security and much more.