Drill Core Mining

Mr TRELOAR (Flinders) (15:15): My question is to the Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy. Does the Minister for Mineral Resources agree with his colleague, the member for Colton, that DC drilling in the Bight could cause damage to coastal environments and tourism?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy) (15:15): Of course it could if it's not managed properly, Mr Speaker. That's why we have NOPSEMA in place, who are world-class regulators—

Mr Marshall: You've got NOPSEMA in place?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: We have.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Well, I'll explain to the Leader of the Opposition how it works. The states had to agree to the establishment of NOPSEMA.

Mr Marshall: Tell him!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: No, I'm telling you, because the Leader of the Opposition's got form on exploration for unconventional gas, and he has been a proponent who has supported the Greens' proposal to have an inquiry into unconventional gas, and, indeed, under the leadership of the member for Dunstan the Liberal Party voted with the Greens to establish an inquiry into unconventional gas.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order: the member is debating the question; it's nowhere near the substance of the question.

The SPEAKER: I'll listen carefully to what's in the minister's answer.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: What the member for Colton is doing is not attempting to stop anything; he's simply seeking answers to questions. The member for Colton is entitled to seek views and hear alternative views from people about this issue. The government has been very clear: we support, with the appropriate regulation in place, the exploration that is occurring in the Great Australian Bight.

We are very grateful to the commonwealth government for the regulation that NOPSEMA is offering. We think the expertise on that board and the expertise of the regulator in NOPSEMA are doing a very, very good job. We think that, while it is a risk, all endeavours have risk. If the appropriate regulation is in place and the company can't show the independent regulator, which is the commonwealth regulator, how they would undertake this safely they won't be granted their licence to explore. So, I'm very comfortable with the position, I'm very comfortable with members of our party asking questions. The member for Colton holds a seaside suburb, and he cares passionately about our coastline and our marine biodiversity. He is a great fisher; indeed, he's the only person in this house who is a gold medallist—

The Hon. P. Caica: Two.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Two gold medals, Mr Speaker. But I'll tell you what he doesn't do: he doesn't side with the Greens. I notice the Leader of the Opposition wearing his green tie today in sympathy with me. We are happy to rely on the science. We don't let politics dictate exploration: we let science dictate exploration.

Mr Bell: Like our marine parks, based on science.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The member interjects, 'like our marine parks', and I submit back to him, like him voting with Tammy Franks to establish an inquiry into unconventional gas which has put at risk one of the largest industries in this state—

Mr Gardner interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Morialta is warned.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —which brought condemnation from Santos, Beach Energy, Senex, Apia, all upon the Leader of the Opposition trying to improve his green credentials.