Emissions Trading Scheme

Mr KNOLL (Schubert) (14:51): My question is to the Treasurer. Has the Treasurer directed his staff or department to investigate possible models and the associated costs of a state-based emissions trading scheme for South Australia?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:51): I am not sure why I would have, but I will check. Prime Minister Turnbull has quite an affection for emissions trading schemes.

Ms Chapman: What about you?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes, I support a national emissions trading scheme. I think it's important. I don't believe direct action actually works. I think a market mechanism is always better than using taxpayers' money to fund polluters. Whether or not the state Treasury here has done any work on this or not, I don't know; I will check. I certainly haven't instructed them to do any. Whether they have done any work in the past on it, I am not sure, but I hope that the commonwealth Treasury is doing the work in anticipation of a new commonwealth government introducing an emissions trading scheme.