Question Time

Nuclear Energy

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (14:21): My question is again to the Premier. Will the Premier advocate to the Prime Minister to remove the moratorium on nuclear energy in Australia? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: In February 2024, when asked about nuclear energy, the Premier was quoted in The Advertiser, saying that he was, and I quote, 'agnostic about the source of green energy coming into the market.'

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:22): Yes, I support green energy. I support green energy and I don't think—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Unley! Member for Hammond!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: I sincerely welcome the Leader of the Opposition pointing out my remarks. There will be plenty of them on the public record, as there will be plenty of them that have been made in other conversations I have every day, because we see a massive opportunity within this government to pursue green energy in any form that is economic for the people of South Australia to capture the opportunity of global decarbonisation. I should add that the decarbonisation of our energy sector—

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

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —actually translates to an opportunity to decarbonise heavy industry in our state. When we think about opportunities, particularly around the production of green iron, we know that we can do that, potentially, at a far more economical price than what we see in other parts of the world because of our capacity to produce green hydrogen, hence our policy. We will continue to make principled but also pragmatic contributions to the debate around energy in this country, and that is something that we intend to maintain at every opportunity.