Climate Change

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (15:20): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier advise the house if the government has achieved its target, announced in 2005, for all buildings in the Adelaide CBD to have zero carbon emissions by 2012?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (15:21): Ultimately, the government has a lot of aspirations when it comes to dealing with global warming. Global warming is a very important aspect—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The government is aiming for $10 billion of investment in low carbon energy generation by 2025. We are also seeking to make sure that many of our buildings are energy efficient and are not emitting carbon. Obviously, the transition period has been difficult, but the government is aspiring to some very bold ambitions and we will have more to say about it in the upcoming budget.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I understand that members opposite are interjecting one at a time on all different points of this without having released a policy at the last state election on this issue. So, I find it a little bit rich, given that members opposite have no policy on this. The majority of them deny that global warming is occurring and now seek to attack the government for not having done enough. It reminds me a lot—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: By 2002. Is it 2012, 2005 or 2002? Perhaps they should speak to each other before they ask a question or interject. The only shame in your interjections is, unfortunately for us, Mr Speaker—

Mr GARDNER: Point of order: this is debate.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I hope not, sir.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I hope it isn't debate either. Continue.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Absolutely not, sir. So, the government is on track with, I think, leading the nation in low carbon investment.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Unley is warned.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes, the tactical spray of going from one topic to the next must be great; it must work really well for you. Mr Speaker, this government has, for a long time now, put its hopes and aspirations in new industries that will replace the old industries, those carbon-emitting industries. We want to make sure that the investment in the low carbon economy has benefits to local South Australians. We believe that by having our buildings made energy efficient there will be benefits not only for the building owners, not only for the buildings that we own but also for the opportunities for manufacturers in South Australia to try to make those products. The Premier and the Governor, in his speech at the beginning of the session, announced an aspiration to have a carbon-neutral city—the first in the world. These aspirations are derided by the opposition. They don't believe we need to reduce our carbon footprint; they don't believe we need to tackle global warming.

Mr GARDNER: Point of order: far from answering whether they have achieved their target set by 2012, the minister is debating.

The SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order.