Alex Gallacher (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Energy, Senator Birmingham. Last year, with much fanfare, the South Australian Liberal opposition leader, Mr Steven Marshall, announced his energy policy, promising that it would deliver South Australian households a saving of $302 per year. Has the federal government undertaken an analysis of the proposal? If so, will the federal government confirm that the Liberal opposition policy in South Australia will deliver savings of $302 per year?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Gallacher for his question and his understandably strong interest in the South Australian Liberal Party's energy policies. I'm sure that Senator Gallacher, like most South Australians, would be thoroughly fed up and frustrated with the problems that have beset the South Australian energy market over the last few years and the difficulties that these problems have set for households and for businesses in having the most expensive, least reliable energy in the country.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was an embarrassment.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Indeed. Senator Wong is right: it has been an embarrassment for South Australia to have a state government who can't keep the lights on—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong on a point of order.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On direct relevance: the embarrassment is the Liberal Party's policy, which is why he's been asked about it. He has been asked whether or not the federal government has done any analysis of the $302. We look forward to your answer, Minister.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I remind the minister of the terms of the question asked by Senator Gallacher.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you Mr President. In terms of Senator's Gallacher's question, I'm not aware of whether or not the federal government has modelled the state Liberal Party's policy. It would be unlikely, but I'll happily check and give the chamber extra information if that's the case. However, I am aware that, indeed, the state Liberal Party's policy to provide a fund to encourage a further interconnection of South Australia into the rest of the national electricity market was something that was promised 16 long years ago by the state Labor government. Sixteen years ago the South Australian Labor Party, when they were elected, said they were going to build the New South Wales interconnector. And do we have it yet? Sixteen years later, no, we don't. Mr Marshall at least has put money on the table in his policy and the state Liberals policy to be able to build that interconnector, to be able to finish it and to be able to ensure that, when the wind is blowing so strongly in South Australia and the turbines are generating more energy than the state needs, the state will be able to export it. But, when the wind is not blowing in South Australia, the state will have greater certainty that it will be able to draw its power from other parts of the National Electricity Market.

Of course, elsewhere Mr Marshall has led the way in promising to put battery support into households, which just last weekend Mr Weatherill played catch-up politics on. I am thrilled, Senator Gallacher, that you have such a strong interest in Mr Marshall's excellent electricity policies. (Time expired)

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Gallacher, a supplementary question.

Alex Gallacher (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Within days of announcing the Liberal energy plan, South Australian opposition leader Steven Marshall was forced to admit that, in fact, his plan would deliver as little as $60 per annum. Is the Turnbull government willing to confirm that even this meagre promised saving of $60 is achievable?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am delighted to say that we trust that the economic modelling that I know the South Australian Liberal Party have had done by Frontier Economics—an organisation that, indeed, the Labor Party have been happy to use themselves—is credible. I am sure their modelling is credible, demonstrating that households will save under their policy. I tell you what, households and businesses have been paying a lot more under Jay Weatherill's policy. I know that households and businesses will be happy to save every single dollar possible on their electricity bills. Senator Gallacher might wish to come in here—

Alex Gallacher (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order going to direct relevance. The question was whether we can expect $60 of meagre savings?

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll call the minister; he's in order.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

South Australians will be happy to save every single dollar possible—I am confident of that—and the modelling demonstrates it is $300.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Gallacher, a final supplementary question.

Alex Gallacher (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given the South Australian Liberal Party's plan collapsed within days of its announcement, isn't it clear that when it comes to modernising our electricity sector the state Liberal opposition is as hopeless as the Turnbull government?

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We have a clear plan with the Turnbull government's National Energy Guarantee that will also save households. The Liberal Party have developed a plan that shows a $300 saving. It of course is going to be delivered, unlike 16 years of empty promises and failures by Jay Weatherill and his team.