Hydrogen Power Plant

Mr PATTERSON (Morphett) (14:44): My question is to the Premier. Does the hydrogen power plant budget include construction of power transmission lines and water pipelines; if so, when will construction commence and how much will it cost taxpayers? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr PATTERSON: On 18 May, the Premier said, 'We are building this…power plant to be operational by the end of 2025.'

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:45): We have always been committed to having this Hydrogen Jobs Plan, or the hydrogen electrolyser and power plant, up and running by the next state election. That is very much our commitment that we are working towards—

The Hon. J.A.W. Gardner interjecting:

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: Well, they are three months apart. We've got that stated commitment and, as I was explaining earlier, we are going through a process to realise it. It is a tight time line because this is a big project. It is a complex project, it is bold by its nature and it is truly unprecedented in a global context. We are proud of that because on this side of the house we believe in bold policy development to realise the opportunity of new jobs for our economy in the future in a decarbonised world.

South Australia can lead that effort globally. When you go overseas and you explain to people that already 70 per cent of all our electricity needs are met by green renewables, people can't believe it. That is something we should all be very proud of indeed, but it also presents an opportunity for us to capitalise on that with an ambitious agenda that is government led to build something that unlocks yet more private investment in a sector growing jobs in our state.

There are opportunities to produce hydrogen for our own consumption for electricity production and opportunities to potentially export hydrogen into the future, but I think the most medium-term opportunity is one that unlocks so much potential in the Upper Spencer Gulf around hot briquetted iron—otherwise known as green iron—production at places like Whyalla and also the utilisation of hydrogen for industrial purposes in places like Port Pirie.

This is a massive opportunity for our state. We have to accept that in this age, in this world, in this moment, sitting back on our hands and just waiting for it to come to us isn't going to happen. We made clear to the people of South Australia that we believe in a green energy future, we believe in the re-industrialisation of our state, and we are going to do everything we can to make that opportunity come to reality for people for generations to come. That's why we are building the world's largest hydrogen electrolyser and power plant—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —and that's why we are going to make it happen by the next state election.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!