9   SOUTH AUSTRALIAN REMOTE AREA ENERGY SUPPLIES SCHEME

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the motion of Mr Ramsey—That this House:

(1)    expresses:

(a)    its greatest concern at the SA Government’s decision to slash support for its Remote Areas Energy Supplies Scheme which subsidises off-grid generation for isolated communities; and

(b)   great concern that the reduction in subsidy will lead to escalating power prices for businesses of up to 100 per cent, recognising users will pay as much as $0.60 per kilowatt hour;

(2)    names the affected communities as Coober Pedy, Andamooka, Yunta, Nundroo, Maria, Oodnadatta, Marree, Kingoonya, Glendambo, Parachilna, Blinman, Manna Hill and Cockburn;

(3)    recognises that Coober Pedy relies on a desalinated water supply and that the reduction in subsidy will lead to the price of water rising to $5.70 a kilolitre;

(4)    brings to the SA Government’s notice that every other State and Territory in Australia which has off-grid generation systems for isolated communities supports a state-wide pricing policy;

(5)    expresses support for the affected communities and recognises the public outrage expressed at a public meeting in Coober Pedy on Sunday, 15 May 2011 attended by Senator Nick Xenophon, SA Legislative Council Member the Hon. John Darley and Rowan Ramsey MP; and

(6)    condemns the SA Government for its actions and calls on it to immediately re-instate the subsidies and consider bringing SA into line with the rest of Australia in supporting state-wide pricing—

Question—That the motion be agreed to—put and passed.