Power Infrastructure

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (14:59): A supplementary based on the minister's diatribe. The question is: does the government have an urgent and long-term power plan to address the crisis facing South Australian businesses, starting as of today, regarding the exorbitant prices of electricity, the lack of sustainability of base load power and the general reliability of power? Do you have a plan or are you just going to throw mud and rubbish?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:59): I thank the honourable member for his supplementary. Absolutely, we need to reform the national energy market, that is the plan, but he keeps digging down and keeps doubling down on something that he is partly responsible for. He needs to take at least a little bit of responsibility.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I would agree with him that his colleague the Hon. Rob Lucas needs to shoulder most of that, but he should man up and take a tiny bit of responsibility for once in his life. All we have seen is his mates across the chamber and their policy; in contrast is, 'Let's get the state to dig for coal and burn it.' That is what the member for Stuart suggested, 'Get the state to dig for coal, the taxpayer to pay this, and burn that coal.' That is their policy, and I am sure we will see next week one of them come in and ask the government to please cost their thought bubble.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! I think the attitude and the behaviour in this chamber should lift itself a notch or two. The Hon. Mr Dawkins.