Auditor-General's Report

In reply to Mr TELFER (Flinders) (29 October 2024).

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Treasurer, Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Minister for Police): I have been advised:

All SA Water dividend and income tax equivalent payments are paid into consolidated revenue. Although dividends from SA Water increased from 2022-23 to 2023-24, SA Water was the recipient of net contributions from government totalling $8.0 million in 2023-24 (i.e. payments made to SA Water from the government exceeded distributions paid by SA Water to the government). This largely reflects that the government makes community service obligation payments to SA Water to undertake various non-commercial operations, including the implementation of state-wide pricing.

Dividends paid by SA Water have no impact on the amount of infrastructure investment undertaken by SA Water. The level of SA Water investment is primarily informed by the Essential Services Commission of South Australia (ESCOSA) through its regulatory determination.