Question Time

Hydrogen Production

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (14:06): My question is to the Premier. When will the Premier confirm the specific location of his hydrogen power plant? With your leave, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: On 2 March this year, Labor promised to 'form an expert panel to report back within 90 days to identify the most appropriate parcel of land for a hydrogen power plant'. It has now been 215 days since the election and we are still in the dark about exactly where this experimental plant will be located.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:06): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question because it shows an interest in one of the most ambitious projects that the state of South Australia has ever embarked upon. Our commitment to the people of this state that we took to the election, of course, was for a $590 million plus hydrogen production facility and power plant.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier has the call.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: Let me be specific for the member for Schubert—a $593 million commitment to the people of South Australia to build the world's largest hydrogen production facility and power plant, an ambitious policy that we are seeking to deliver before the next election. An important part of that process goes to site selection.

I am happy to inform the house that just today we had a meeting of our cabinet task force in regard to the hydrogen opportunity that South Australia has before it, which includes reporting on that project. In that meeting, we were discussing the very specific site identification—the process that the Leader of the Opposition referred to has identified. That is obviously subject to commercial engagement and consideration on behalf of the government, but I am in a position to confirm for the benefit of the house and the people of South Australia that the location is in the area that we said it would be, and that is in the area of Whyalla. We are now moving on to the next stage, which is moving along to the next—

Mr Patterson: We're not further along. Where exactly?

The SPEAKER: The member for Morphett is called to order. The Premier has the call.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: We are moving to the next stage of the project's delivery schedule, which is going to the market for procurement. The reason why I am so grateful for the interest of the opposition in this project—and no doubt it will enjoy scrutiny, as it has in the past—is because we see this as one of the central opportunities that we have before us as a state.

Only moments ago, I was saying to some guests here in parliament that hydrogen represents the most significant wealth-creating opportunity that I think South Australia has before us because it gives us the opportunity to produce a fuel—a fuel of the future that we know the world wants and needs. There is a global effort now underway both from governments and the movement of private capital to attain fuel sources that aren't dependent upon carbon.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Hartley! The member for Morialta on a point of order under 134.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Standing order 98: the question was about the hydrogen power plant not the production of hydrogen as a fuel. It's actually quite a different proposition. More specifically, the question was about site selection, and the Premier did answer that—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: —and he has now moved on.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I will allow the Premier some latitude because he is the Premier. I will listen carefully.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: I appreciate the member for Morialta's question. Of course, our policy, to which the Leader of the Opposition referred, is to build both a hydrogen production facility and a power plant, and one is very much dependent upon the other, so I submit that it is absolutely relevant. Nonetheless—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —our ambition is to deliver this policy that is truly world leading. The rest of the world is actually standing up and taking notice of what this policy seeks to achieve, which is to put South Australia right at the centre of the industrial map around the world.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Hartley!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: I would have thought—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Chaffey!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —that those opposite would support such an opportunity being pursued. I know those opposite were happy to see—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Morialta!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —Queensland capture the hydrogen opportunity at our expense. Well, that doesn't sit well with us.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Flinders!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: We want to reassume our position of leadership in the hydrogen industry in this country, and we will deliver exactly that.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Hartley is warned.