Mr DUGALD SAUNDERS (Dubbo) (11:35): My question is directed to the Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading. Farmers with properties adjacent to solar farms across the State, including those in Glanmire recently, have been refused public liability insurance due to the potential damage from fire. As the Minister with responsibility for insurance, what steps has he taken to address the issue?
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields—Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Minister for Building, and Minister for Corrections) (11:35): I thank the Leader of The Nationals for his question. This Government will always look at ways to support all consumers, including farmers, when they are in need of insurance protection. As members know, there are three components to what the State Insurance Regulatory Authority [SIRA] does, and that is home building insurance, motor accident insurance and workers compensation. In terms of the specifics of the member's question, we will always find ways to ensure that households in New South Wales are looked after. We will always find ways to ensure that SIRA and the insurance companies work on ways to make sure we support our consumers.
Mr Dugald Saunders: Point of order—
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG: The member for Dubbo wants to take a point of order. Please do.
Mr Dugald Saunders: It is under Standing Order 129. I will provide a bit more specificity for clarification if the Minister is not quite sure of where to go. As Minister with responsibility for insurance and regulation, it falls under his portfolio.
Mr Ron Hoenig: To the point of order—
The SPEAKER: The member for Dubbo has made his point, but I will hear from the Leader of the House on the point of order. I think I know where it is going.
Mr Ron Hoenig: The member should either take a point of order and invite your attention to a standing order, or he should resume his seat. He should not ask for clarification. He cannot make statements like that to the Minister.
The SPEAKER: I thank the Leader of the House. The member for Dubbo was adding to the question rather than providing clarification. There is no point of order. I acknowledge that the Minister anticipated the point of order; I will give him a point for that. The Minister has the call.
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG: If we want to talk about insurance and reform, how about the Opposition back the Government's reform on the emergency services levy?
Mr Dugald Saunders: Point of order—
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG: If we want to talk about insurance, how about we talk about that?
The SPEAKER: The Minister will resume his seat while I hear the highly anticipated point of order from the member for Dubbo.
Mr Dugald Saunders: Clearly, my point of order is taken under Standing Order 129. He has been coached about something that is completely irrelevant. I will seek an extension of time for the Minister while I am here.
Mr Paul Scully: It's not irrelevant to people who want the cost of living brought down. You're irrelevant.
Mr Dugald Saunders: If you want to answer the question, have a crack.
The SPEAKER: The member for Dubbo will get part of his wish. I grant an additional two minutes. I advise the Minister that I am likely to uphold a point of order on relevance. The Minister will continue his answer.
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG: If stakeholders have issues with insurance, I am always happy to meet with them to ensure that we continue to find ways to reintegrate. When it comes to insurance, we have a number of reforms on the agenda. I am happy to receive any stakeholders that have issues. I also highlight our insurance coverage reform, including the emergency services levy, which the previous Government did not do.
Mr Alister Henskens: Point of order: My point of order has several parts. The Minister is not directing his answer through you, Mr Speaker. He is screaming across the Chamber. More importantly, the question was what steps has the Minister taken. The closest he has come to answering that is saying, "If I've got to meet with people, I'll meet with them in the future." The question asked what he is doing about a serious issue for people in regional areas.
The SPEAKER: The Minister is being directly relevant. Opposition members may not like it, but that is my ruling. The Minister has the call. I call the member for Wahroonga to order for the first time.
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG: If members opposite want to talk about what we are doing, what did they do for so long? They did nothing. They come into the Chamber and beat their chests about what we are doing while they sat around and did nothing. We have a significant insurance reform agenda. Those opposite having to ask us what we have done, goes to show that they have done nothing in this space. We have plenty on.
The SPEAKER: I call the member for Dubbo to order for the first time. That answer was better than Red Bull; it got members going so I let it run a little. That will not happen again. I hope members have got it out of their systems.
Ms Felicity Wilson: No!
The SPEAKER: I call the member for North Shore to order for the first time. It was a rhetorical question.
