Energy Bill Relief

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (14:17): My question is to the Treasurer. Has the Treasurer met with any peak business industry groups in South Australia who have called for the continuation or increase of the government's energy bill rebate scheme and, if so, what is his response?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Treasurer) (14:17): I have had a number of representations from a number of representative groups urging the government to continue the record amount of cost-of-living relief that we provided in last year's state budget: more than $400 million in a suite of initiatives, headlined by the $127 million we invested from the state budget—to be matched by the commonwealth's $127 million—to provide more than 400,000 households with a $500 reduction off their energy bills.

For those people who were on the then standing offer, with average usage, they would have actually seen an overall reduction in their energy bill, because this was not provided as an amount of money handed out to a household: it was reduced directly off quarterly bills. So, yes, I have had those representations. What's the government's response? You will find out on budget day.