Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (14:28): My question is to the Minister for Regional Development. What are the likely impacts to regional employment after the increase in electricity prices paid by businesses, such as Golden North, who saw their annual power bill increase from $280,000 to $500,000?

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (15:02): My question is to the Minister for Health. Can the minister inform the house how he is addressing the $150 million backlog in regional health infrastructure maintenance?

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (14:44): My question is to the Minister for Energy. Given the minister asked ESCOSA to do an investigation into a 10 per cent increase in electricity prices last year, will he now ask ESCOSA to do an investigation into a further 18 per cent increase in electricity prices this year?

In reply to Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (2 March 2017).

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee —Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Housing and Urban Development):I have been provided with the following advice:

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 14:30 ): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Can the minister inform the house what measures are being taken to ensure new sections of the Mallee and Dukes highways, alongside the Tailem Bend motorsport park, do not melt again when the temperature rises above 35º?

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 14:33 ): My question is again to the member for Transport and Infrastructure. Can the minister inform the house when the government is going to allocate the emergency road funding that is required in the Langhorne Creek region, as a result of the flood damage some six months ago?

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS ( 15:28 ): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for the Environment a question regarding long-nosed fur seals.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: The hardworking excellent member for Hammond, Mr Adrian Pederick MP, has referred to me a number of reports and investigations into the overpopulation of long-nosed fur seals along the South Australian coastline. Given that 10,000 fur seals consume over 400 tonnes of seafood per day, my question is: what is the effect on commercial and recreational fishers of this overpopulation of fur seals?

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS ( 14:51 ): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation questions about the protection of the Coorong from New Zealand fur seals.

Leave granted.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) ( 14:44 ): Supplementary, sir: my understanding is that these checks are at least cost neutral, so why don't you just employ more people in the checking department?

Mr PEDERICK ( Hammond ) ( 15:40 ): My question is to the Minister for Transport. Is the government going to allow recreational boating access whilst the Murray Mouth is being dredged?