Hydrogen Power Plant

Mr PATTERSON (Morphett) (14:38): My question is to the Premier. Has the Premier pursued a taxpayer funded hydrogen power plant for years without any business case or customer? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr PATTERSON: The CEO of the SA Chamber of Mines and Energy said last week:

Green steel industry development, that just came out as an expression of interest, and the hydrogen just came out as a pre-election idea. Neither of these had the deep planning behind them that was required prior to the announcement. We have probably wasted four years looking at hydrogen.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:39): If that is true, it is an indictment on also the opposition for their hydrogen policies.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Whoa! Members opposite allocated nearly $70 million to Port Bonython.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Don't get nervous—$70 million to Port Bonython. I have to say, that money, that $593 million, is going to steelworkers in Whyalla. The $70 million that was spent by the previous government: how many molecules of hydrogen has that produced? Quiet. I have to say that hydrogen has its critics. There are some people who believe that the nuclear industry, with its massive government subsidies that would cost the taxpayers billions of dollars and consumers hundreds of millions of dollars in their bills, is okay, but if you attempt to decarbonise an industry to create Australian jobs, that is a waste of money.

Members opposite had better be very careful about the standards they set. How about this: they support nuclear energy without even producing a business plan. Where is the business case for nuclear? Where is it? Release it. Ask Danny Price. I have to say, this ideological bet against renewable energy is unhealthy. This government believes that the planet is warming. We believe that carbon dioxide emitted by human endeavour is heating the planet. We need to decarbonise. We have a plan to decarbonise: hydrogen.

The reason that we invest in hydrogen and have hydrogen aspirations is that we produce 75 per cent of Australia's structural steel. We are the largest steelmaker in the country. You might remember when the previous carbon price was put in place by the previous Gillard government, and what they exempted was metallurgical coal. Why? To support the steelworks. Steelworks need special attention. Countries who want sovereign steelmaking capability need to invest in them. That is why we wanted hydrogen in Whyalla. We wanted hydrogen in Whyalla alongside our magnetite resources, alongside an integrated steelworks, for a reason.

An honourable member: Why are you selling it, then?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Selling? The electrolyser is not being sold. Again, it is about a lack of knowledge by members opposite. Members opposite don't even know what they are talking about. It is becoming embarrassing. It is almost as embarrassing as watching the Leader of the Opposition in the pub last night sit by himself on the phone and no-one talked to him while there was a queue of people wanting to talk to the Premier.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: Point of order: I ask—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my right will listen.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: I ask the leader of the house not to mislead the house. I was talking to the AMWU, the CEPU and many others last night.

The SPEAKER: I do not think that was a point of order. That was some sort of statement to the house.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Flinders can leave the chamber until the end of question time.

The honourable member for Flinders having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The Treasurer will be releasing his budget. It will detail all of our expenditure, as we do each and every year. The Auditor-General does reports. There is nothing to hide here, nothing at all. We are interested in steel jobs. We are interested in the future of steel manufacturing in this country, and we are making sure that Whyalla has a future. Members opposite have not yet given us a policy on steelmaking. They have not yet given us an endorsement of what the Prime Minister announced today. They have not yet endorsed our plans to help with the administration. So I have to say, members opposite have no plans on steel, yet they criticise ours.