SA WATER

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (15:00): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Water and the River Murray questions regarding SA Water accounts.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY: I recently received my SA Water account and noticed that the government has provided a one-off water security rebate to help reduce the cost of living impacts associated with the recent outrageous water price rises. I noted that those with a recorded water use in 2012 of up to 120 kilolitres received a rebate of $45 and those who used over 120 kilolitres received a rebate of $75.

Given the government's initiative in the past few years to educate people about water conservation and to be more water wise, can the minister advise why those who have conserved water are effectively being punished by receiving less of a rebate than high water users? Was consideration given just to provide a set rebate for all water users or at least the highest rebate for those users who used the lower volume of water and, if so, why were these options disregarded?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:01): I thank the honourable member for his most important questions and will refer them to the Minister for Water and the River Murray and bring back a response.