SA Water

Mr TELFER (Flinders) (15:03): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier advise if performance payment bonuses were paid to public servants in connection with the River Murray flood crisis and, if so, from which agencies? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr TELFER: It has been revealed by FOI that $902,346 was paid out on top of ordinary salary packages to 926 SA Water staff in 2023-24.

The Hon. N.D. CHAMPION (Taylor—Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Housing Infrastructure, Minister for Planning) (15:04): The opposition is, I think, well aware that SA Water paid out bonuses to their staff. The important thing to remember about all of this is that these bonuses were not paid to executives, board members or some imaginary fat cat; 92 per cent of employees who received the performance allowance earned less than $100,000 a year. They were people like lock attendants, construction and maintenance workers, field technicians—people who do that sort of very important work all throughout the state. The River Murray was obviously a particular point of focus for SA Water. There were many things that they did that improved the outcome for that flood recovery effort.

Mr Whetstone interjecting:

The Hon. N.D. CHAMPION: I can hear the member opposite interjecting and he's got an interest in these matters. Of course this is part of the normal work of SA Water, but it is important that we properly remunerate employees. These employees only received, for their last pay rise in their enterprise bargaining agreement, 1 per cent, which in the current inflationary environment is pretty small, and these bonuses go some way to recognise the sort of work they do.

I have extended to the opposition spokespeople in the upper house who put out a press release recently, and I would extend to any member of the opposition, the opportunity to come out and see the SA Water crews doing their work, dealing with sewage spills and dealing with water leaks.

Mr Whetstone: At the locks?

The Hon. N.D. CHAMPION: The locks. Well, you can go down to the lock and tell the lock attendant he shouldn't get a fair day's pay for a fair day's work, and that's all we're really doing here. We're providing proper remuneration to staff who do a really good job for the state.