Limestone Coast Mining

Mr McBRIDE (MacKillop) (14:29): My question is to the Minister for Energy and Mining. The department put out a YourSAy survey regarding energy and mining on the Limestone Coast earlier this year. The survey closed on 8 July. When will the report be made public?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:29): Thank you for the question, member for MacKillop, and thank you for your interest. The survey did close on 8 July. We are considering the results of that survey, and I do undertake in this house today to release those survey results before the end of the year.

It is important that the views of people on the Limestone Coast are well ventilated, that their views are known and made public. I think they would be very keen to see what the results of that survey are as well—I certainly am.

When you do these surveys it is always interesting, because you hear a lot of anecdotal evidence about what people are actually thinking. It is fascinating to have people stereotyped: because you are from a certain region you might be pro this or anti that, or whatever it might be, but in the confines of an online survey, where people can give confidential answers which are then assessed and obviously released, it is an important tool for the government to use in policy-making.

Personally, I will be interested to see what the results are, but I think all of us, as political leaders, have a responsibility to speak truth to power, and that truth to power was to our bosses, our voters and our constituents, to talk about the benefits of agriculture, the benefits of entrepreneurship, the benefits of mining, the benefits of energy security for our state, the benefits of education, and all other aspects of government life in people's communities.

This survey will be fascinating in understanding exactly what is going on in the Limestone Coast about energy. I do think it is important, and I would like to brief the local MPs before its release, so I undertake to do that. I think that is appropriate, and I undertake to brief the MPs of the Limestone Coast first. I also undertake to release it before the end of the year, because it is important that you be well informed so that you can talk to your communities about that. Then we can get on with the business of making sure this country and this state is energy independent.