Energy Concessions

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:45): My question is to the Minister for Human Services. Can the minister advise if gas has formed part of previous concession arrangements? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: On 9 March, the Minister for Energy and Mining said that the government 'has done its very best to negotiate with the private operator for the first time to get a concession on gas'. However, I am advised that in 2019 the former Liberal government announced that, and I quote, 'Households receiving the SACEDO can also benefit from an 11 per cent discount on their gas usage and supply charges.'

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Treasurer) (14:46): I don't have the benefit of the particular comments that the deputy leader refers to in the explanation of his question, or the details of what happened back in 2019, but perhaps some context I can provide for the benefit of the deputy leader and the house is that the energy relief that is being provided was specifically chosen to be off electricity bills because they are more ubiquitous for households.

While many households, of course, do have gas—and, yes, I can recall in previous years there have been some arrangements to support households either with, or looking to take up, a gas connection. The choice in this instance was to provide it for electricity consumers because it was thought at the federal level, and also at the state and territory levels, that that would provide a far greater coverage for people with energy bills.