RENEWABLE ENERGY

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide) (15:05): My question is to the Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy. Can the minister inform the house on how renewable energy stimulates economic activity in South Australia, and are there any threats to renewable energy investment in our state?

The SPEAKER: Just before the minister answers the question, in the House of Representatives addendums to questions such as, 'Are there any threats?' are often ruled out of order because they might lead to a diatribe about the opposition's policy. I hope that wouldn't be the case—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (15:05): Surely not, sir.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I usually wait for the last 15 seconds myself. I thank the member for this important question. The government recognises the role renewable energy plays in providing clean power, but also in providing positive economic benefits to our state. As a state, we have the reputation for a fair and expeditious planning system which has resulted in 15 operational wind farms with a capacity of 1,203 megawatts and a total of 559 turbines.

According to the Clean Energy Council, South Australia has attracted $3 billion in capital investment which has translated to 842 direct jobs and 2,500 total jobs. This is investment and job creation in our regional communities and, quite frankly, it is a very important investment in our regional communities. In fact, a recent Garrad Hassan report, commissioned by the Clean Energy Council, showed that the construction of a 50 megawatt wind farm provided $50 million to South Australia's gross state product and 2.6 per cent to a region's gross regional product. Furthermore, this creates a diversified and steady income for these communities.

When an area experiences drought, or grain prices are low, these projects still provide economic activity. Thanks to the government's policies on renewable energy, we have more than $5 billion worth of wind farm developments in the pipeline, creating more than 1,800 jobs. The projects include:

the $35 million Barn Hill Wind Farm project;

the $1.3 billion Ceres Project;

the $950 million Hornsdale Wind Farm;

the $360 million Lincoln Gap Wind Farm;

the $180 million Mount Bryan Wind Farm;

The $250 million Robertstown Wind Farm;

the $550 million Snowtown Wind Farm, stage 2;

the $350 million Stony Gap Wind Farm;

the $118 million The Bluff Wind Farm; and

the $650 million Tungketta Wind Farm.

When you combine the proposed investment with the completed wind farms in South Australia, that is a total of $8 billion worth of investment into our state. That is nearly triple the $3.2 billion members opposite got for their fire sale of ETSA. However—

The SPEAKER: We're not in the last 15 seconds.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: No, sir—a pre-emptive strike, sir. However, this $5 billion worth of investment and thousands of jobs in our regional communities is at threat. I understand the Liberal Party has announced a moratorium on all wind farms if they gain office. While the leader opposite—

The SPEAKER: Minister, that will be enough, thank you.