UNCONVENTIONAL GAS PROJECTS

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (14:59): My question is to the Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy. Minister, can you inform the house how this government is working to secure the benefits of the state's vast unconventional gas players?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:59): Yes, Madam Speaker, I can. I want to thank the member for his question and his keen interest in growing the state and creating wealth in this economy. This week, the government released a draft roadmap that maximises the potential of South Australia's unconventional gas resources in an environmentally sustainable way.

Launched to coincide with the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association annual conference being held here in Adelaide, the draft 'Roadmap for unconventional gas projects' is believed to be the first of its kind in South Australia. Even in its infancy, the unconventional gas sector has the potential to deliver hundreds of millions, if not billions, of investment dollars to this state and provide a new lease of life to the Cooper Basin. I know that the shadow minister agrees with me.

The draft roadmap lays out important information to all stakeholders involved in the growth of the state's unconventional gas sector and aims to start the conversation about the benefits of unconventional gas to the people of South Australia. I encourage members opposite to join with us in that conversation about unconventional gas.

The roadmap transparently lays out the factors that will be taken into account in considering whether or not to approve an unconventional gas project so as to ensure compatibility with coexisting natural, social and economic environments. With the release of the draft roadmap, we hope not only to inform South Australians but set a course for a sustainable way to develop this state's large endowment of unconventional gas.

In doing so, the roadmap also describes the state's nation-leading approach to the regulation of upstream petroleum operations and unconventional gas operations in particular. The roadmap will also act as a point of call for future investment. It is intended to inform the investor strategies, as well as build public confidence in the government's policies, programs and regulations of the unconventional gas sector.

The roadmap is open for public comment until 5pm on 27 July 2012 so that people and businesses can influence the final form of the document. I encourage all stakeholders to be engaged in that discussion. I am confident, and the government is confident, that the facts will stand up for themselves: that unconventional gas can provide a wealth of opportunities across a wide range of sectors of the economy in a way that spreads the benefit of the mining boom to all South Australians.