Alinta Energy

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (15:09): Supplementary: why won't the government release the request made by Alinta to the public of South Australia so we can all make a judgement about it with all of the facts on the table?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister is on his feet.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (15:09): The former Prime Minister Mr Tony Abbott has been in the media recently saying, 'I've got a plan for energy,' and that was for the taxpayer to bail out the Hazelwood coal-fired power station and keep it running. That's what Tony Abbott said: 'Hey Malcolm, I've got a plan for you.' What did the Prime Minister say, Mr President? The Prime Minister said on Radio Adelaide and ABC Northwest:

It's a substantial generator, it is the oldest in fact in Australia and has been slated for closure for many, many years. The company has decided to close it because the cost of making it safe—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Point of order. Will the minister please take his seat.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Point of order: Mr President, as you know, we have had 12½ minutes of the minister's reply. I have asked a simple question: why won't the government release the request from Alinta, that the Premier says doesn't exist and the Treasurer says does, to the public of South Australia so we can all make a judgement with all the facts, and he is now raving on about the Prime Minister. Bring him back to the answer of the question.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: Why won't you make it public?

The PRESIDENT: Order! Will the honourable Leader of the Opposition desist. Minister, you have been asked a simple question. Please keep it very brief.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: To continue:

The company has decided to close it because of the cost of making it safe runs into many hundreds of millions of dollars.

That is the Prime Minister of Australia, and this joke over here on the Liberal Party benches wants us to bail out a private generator. That is their policy, a coal-fired power station way beyond its years.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Even his own prime minister says that's a stupid idea.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: What's your plan?

The PRESIDENT: Order! Sit down, minister.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order this very instant! The next one to speak—

The Hon. T.J. Stephens interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Stephens, please keep your opinions to yourself. Please don't refer to members across the chamber, no matter what side you're on, as a joke. Everyone has the right to ask a question and everyone should have the respect in letting them answer.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Mr President, I withdraw any allegation that the Hon. Mr David Ridgway is a joke: he's just not funny.

The PRESIDENT: Okay, well that's better.