INTERNATIONAL SOLAR CITIES CONGRESS

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (14:52): My question is to the Minister for the City of Adelaide. What is planned for the third International Solar Cities Congress which is to be held in Adelaide next week? Given the discussion on sunshine this afternoon, this is probably a most appropriate question.

The Hon. J.D. LOMAX-SMITH (Adelaide—Minister for Education and Children's Services, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (14:52): I thank the member for Ashford for her question. I know that she is committed to sustainability and she is very supportive of the measures this government has put in place to protect our state in the future. The third International Solar Cities Congress will take place in Adelaide between 17 and 21 February at the Adelaide Convention Centre. Already 716 delegates have registered, and they have been attracted by not only the topics under discussion but the high calibre of speakers who have been attracted to this event. They include:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr;

Federal Minister Peter Garrett;

Dr Rajendra K Pachauri, Nobel Peace Prize winner of 2007 and Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; and

Dr Zhengrong Shi, Founder of China's largest solar PV company, Suntech Power Holdings Co.

South Australians can expect an extraordinarily international smorgasbord of debates, arguments and discussion. This will be a globally significant event with over 90 speakers from 23 countries. Also in attendance will be a student from Chennai, India, a young man called Jaswanth Madhavan, who is the overall winner of the third International Solar Cities Congress for a submission that predicted what could be done to Chennai to make it sustainable into the future. I commend him for his 150-page report setting out his vision for the future.

In addition to the conference, there is a Green City Festival on 17 February. I encourage everybody to go to Elder Park on that day because there will be demonstration pieces and stands and discussions about sustainability. It will be a public event well worth attending. The 190 international delegates have come to South Australia because we are one of the most sustainable cities and one with a government that has taken a leadership position not only in Australia but around the world. As members know, there were no wind power farms in South Australia before our government came into place and, since then, $1 billion of investment has guaranteed that we are up to almost 50 per cent of Australia's wind power capacity. We are also proud of the number of grid-connected solar systems, reaching over 45 per cent when we are, as the Premier said, less than 8 per cent of the population.

It is also worth recognising that we, as a cabinet, are offsetting our travel activities (including air travel). South Australia, through this congress, is really positioning itself on a world stage for being one of the great leaders not only in Australia but in the world. I wish delegates every success in debating clean energy, sustainability and urban design. I encourage anybody who has the time to go to the Convention Centre or Elder Park in the next few days, because there will be much to learn and the standard of debate will be world class and well worth listening to.