WIND FARMS

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide) (14:13): My question is to the Premier. Would the Premier advise the house about the investment climate for wind power in South Australia?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:13): I thank the honourable member for her question and I acknowledge her strong commitment to environmental sustainability. It is something that I think we have come to associate with the member for Port Adelaide over her career well before she entered into parliament. She has taken those values and concerns into her role as member for Port Adelaide.

Wind power is one of the most cost-effective forms of renewable energy and plays an important role in reducing our level of greenhouse gas emissions. We have almost 50 per cent of the nation's wind power in South Australia, up from zero when we came to office. Every megawatt hour of wind energy cuts about one tonne of greenhouse gas emissions and, apart from bringing in vital investments in our state, the benefits of wind farms are significant for our environment. They are also important for jobs.

A recent Garrad Hassan report commissioned by the Clean Energy Council estimates that, for every 50 megawatt wind farm, 48 full-time equivalent direct construction positions are created. In addition to the direct employment generated by the construction and operation of a wind farm, there are flow-on effects to the wider community. Local retail and services benefit from the increased economic activity in the locality of the wind farm, and it is estimated that, for every direct construction and maintenance job created, two additional indirect jobs are created.

We clearly offer an attractive investment climate for wind energy in South Australia, which is clearly important for our future. We currently have more than $5 billion worth of wind farm developments in the pipeline, which could create 1,850 jobs. So, I was disturbed yesterday when I met with a significant proponent of wind farms here in our state who expressed their concerns at changes in that investment climate, including the uncertainty created by calls for a moratorium on wind farm developments by those opposite.

These calls are damaging the investment climate we have so painstakingly built over the last decade and therefore putting at risk the investment and jobs which flow from it. Under this government, we have established ourselves as the most supportive jurisdiction for renewable energy investment. We will continue to work closely with renewable energy and other local communities to ensure benefits for all South Australians, but I think what we are seeing is a pattern here: a cheap political point seeking to advance the interests of those opposite and jeopardising the productive infrastructure of our state.

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Has the Premier finished?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Yes.