Ministerial Statement

Clean Energy Summit

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:05): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Yesterday, around 70 industry and community leaders joined me right here in this chamber for an emergency summit on the future of clean energy. The summit was called on the back of continuing uncertainty arising from the Warburton review and statements made by the Abbott government that suggest a departure from the current renewable energy target after more than a decade of bipartisan support.

As many in this place would already know, the clean energy sector is extraordinarily important. In South Australia, the sector has generated many billions of dollars of investment and supports thousands of jobs, including many in regional communities. However, this sector has not simply developed overnight; it has grown only as a result of conscious efforts over many years—efforts that have recognised the potential that a viable clean energy industry presents both domestically and, in the long term, internationally.

At yesterday's summit, we heard from former Liberal leader Dr John Hewson of the dramatic impact that policy uncertainty has created for clean energy investment, with renewable energy investment now back to the levels it was at in 2001 before the introduction of the RET. We heard from Professor Ross Garnaut, who outlined that any move from the RET would leave Australia an international laughing-stock, and that due to our natural advantages, the widespread use of renewables would create competitive cost advantages for Australian industry.

We heard from the CEO of the Clean Energy Council, Kane Thornton, who highlighted the impact that existing uncertainty is placing on more than 20,000 people who work in this sector and their families. We have heard of the risk that this threat of change presents to foreign investment in our country, of how any change to the renewable energy target is tantamount to sovereign risk—a risk so great it could contaminate foreign investment in other sectors, driving foreign capital away from our shores.

All that we heard concerns me greatly. I am told of the potential that the clean energy industry has to simulate new advanced manufacturing opportunities in South Australia, where we compete on know-how rather than cost. I am told of the thousands of jobs in regional communities that would flow from the billions of dollars of investments that would result from the continuation of the renewable energy target. The Abbott government now has a choice, much like prime minister Howard had when he introduced the RET; however, unlike prime minister Howard, the present choice is much clearer. In the words of Dr Hewson, 'This is one barnacle that Mr Abbott could easily scrape off.'

I now table the communiqué agreed as an outcome of the summit, and I encourage all those in this chamber to lend their support to this cause.