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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-05-18 Daily Xml
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Hydrogen Production

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (14:06): My question is to the Premier. Will the government's hydrogen power station lower power bills for South Australian households and, if so, when? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: South Australia currently has the highest power prices in the country, and the typical South Australian family is $17,000 worse off than this time last year.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Treasurer) (14:06): I am more than happy to respond to the leader's question, the Minister for Energy not being with us today. I note that the opposition has been touting this figure of $17,000, of course led by the impacts of rising interest rates and increases in mortgage rates and also rents for households. The attempt by the opposition to try to make that the fault of a state government, let alone this government, is frankly laughable.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hartley is warned.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Hartley!

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: If those opposite hang their economic credentials—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Morialta is warned.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Hartley!

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: —on the pretence that state or territory governments have control over mortgage rates, that is an absolute and utter joke.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: I am responding to the detail that was provided in the question by the leader, which you gave leave for. If you want to withdraw leave, if you are not comfortable with how the leader asked his question, start whispering in his ear. Start providing him some advice, like a decent deputy leader would.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: If you don't like the answer—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Florey!

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: —ask a better question. This is not rocket science.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: You have had plenty of practice with this, plenty of practice—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Hartley is warned for a final time.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: —and it demonstrates the complete and utter lack of economic credibility of those opposite.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Morialta is warned for a second time.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: I am very happy to talk about hydrogen because it was those opposite—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Florey! The member for Hartley and the member for Florey can depart under 137A for the remainder of question time. The Treasurer has the call.

The honourable members for Hartley and Florey having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: The deputy leader would like me to desist from talking about the detail that was within the Leader of the Opposition's question and instead refocus my answer on what he hopes will be more fertile ground for those opposite. Unfortunately, it won't be. It won't be because we took, proudly, a policy to the last state election to maintain our leadership position, not just around the nation but in a global context of being leaders in successfully making the energy transition away from predominantly fossil-fuelled electricity systems to ones powered by renewables, and now, taking the next step with that, with hydrogen.

The opportunity here is not only recognised by this government; it is also recognised by the federal government, making a commitment in last week's federal budget for $2 billion for jurisdictions who also believe that hydrogen has a role to play in unlocking further industrial potential in Australia. Beyond our country, of course, we see not only Asian countries but European countries wanting to take advantage of jurisdictions like Australia and subnational jurisdictions like South Australia's capacity to produce hydrogen economically.

We committed $593 million to this task because we know that if we successfully make the transition to producing hydrogen economically, then the opportunities for industry are extraordinary for our state, absolutely extraordinary. If we can use that hydrogen to enable those carbon-intensive, heavily polluting industries—for example, steelmaking—green their operations then the opportunities for those companies, and by extension the workers who work for them and the communities around them around South Australia, are almost limitless.

Those opposite railed against our hydrogen policy—railed against it—in the lead-up to the election, and I take it from the question they continue to oppose it as well.

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