NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

Mr KENYON (Newland) (14:39): My question is to the Minister for Science and Information Economy. What support is the government providing to encourage research in the fields of sustainable energy and natural resources management?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for Youth, Minister for Gambling) (14:40): I thank the honourable member for his question and, in particular, his interest in the area of science and innovation in South Australia—even if it is not replicated by the opposition.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I am on my feet, and I will name any member who continues to call out when the Speaker is on his feet. I have had enough of this calling out from one side to the other while another member is speaking. The Minister for Science and Information Economy.

The Hon. P. CAICA: As I was saying, I thank the honourable member for his question. The government's 10-year vision for science and innovation (STI¹⁰) drives several key initiatives, one of which is Constellation SA—and I know that at least some members in the chamber are familiar with Constellation SA. It is a mechanism for enhancing collaboration between research organisations and industry in our state and helps shape our strategic planning by providing a framework for our government's investment in areas of science research—which includes natural resource management and climate change.

The Premier's Science and Research Fund is another of our key science initiatives, and it too has a particular emphasis on environmental research. Having incorporated funding from the Sustainable Energy Research Advisory Committee program, the Premier's Science and Research Fund (PSRF) now directs a minimum of $220,000 per annum toward sustainable energy R&D projects in South Australia, which is a profound acknowledgement of the capabilities and potential of our sustainable energy industries. In line with this strategy, the Regional Sustainability Centre—

The Hon. I.F. Evans interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: You will learn about some of the work being undertaken here; I know that you are, at the very least, interested in it.

The Hon. I.F. Evans interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: If you listen you may learn something here. In line with this strategy, the Regional Sustainability Centre at UniSA's Whyalla campus is receiving funding to the tune of $660,000 through this year's PSRF funding round for energy, water and other infrastructure, such as solar-based water desalination, and to support work on the world's first solar thermal base-load demonstration project. It is this project that aims to support the use of environmentally sustainable practices in Upper Spencer Gulf, particularly within the mining industry, and Whyalla is ideally placed to host such a facility.

Another of the PSRF-funded projects is the aquifer storage transfer and recovery demonstration project—also the first of its type in the world. Funding of $350,000 has enabled the project management group to install pumping systems and injection infrastructure, to construct production wells and hydrogeological investigations, and to monitor water quality. The success of this highly innovative project has high significance for our state, as it has the potential to lead to reduced extraction of water from the River Murray, along with a reduction in the flow of stormwater into the ocean. It is an excellent project that will make a contribution to the environmental sustainability of the Murray system and Gulf St Vincent and will also have a positive impact on the management of stormwater and groundwater resources.

Another project the state government supports is the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy, which is funding projects associated with climate change. One of these is the South Australian biofuels pilot plant which aims to demonstrate micro-algal biodiesel capability (and I know the member for Mount Gambier has a particular interest in this). The state is contributing $2.43 million to this project with the expectation—

The Hon. R.J. McEwen interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: You are interested as the member for Mount Gambier as well, yes. It is $2.43 million to this project, with the expectation of building local expertise and of establishing South Australia as a world leader in biofuels research. The government's investment in these projects—

The Hon. I.F. Evans interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: I understand some schools in your area got significant investment during your time in relation to sports facilities as well. Mr Speaker, I know the opposition likes to talk down aspects of what we are doing to ensure that this state is at the forefront of sustainable environmental projects as they relate to industry in South Australia, and it can continue to do that. If opposition members are not interested it does not bother me, but I know it bothers people out there.

The government's investment in these projects and other initiatives demonstrates its commitment to environmental sustainability, and that it is a crucial priority for our state. Ongoing support for these emerging research fields will continue to provide significant flow-on benefits for South Australia as we as a state maintain our efforts to use natural resources in an efficient and sustainable way.