ENERGY, STAR RATING

The Hon. M. PARNELL (16:47): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Urban Development and Planning a question about the star rating for energy efficiency of dwellings.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M. PARNELL: In 2004, South Australia was one of the first states in Australia to announce 5 star minimum energy standards for residential buildings. Whilst it was implemented in 2006, it was already achievable by a relatively large proportion of the building industry by providing ceiling and wall insulation. In fact, it was regarded as a very easy standard to meet. We now have 6 star energy efficiency standards which are slightly more difficult to achieve but which are still relatively easy, and in places such as Lochiel Park we have 7½ star energy-rated dwellings.

I note that in May this year the Campbelltown City Council resolved to call on the South Australian government to show leadership through the introduction of 6 star minimum energy efficiency standards for thermal performance in residential buildings from July 2010 onwards. In making that call to various heads of government departments, the council noted that, whilst it had 7½ star dwellings in Lochiel Park, it was still compelled to approve inappropriate development in other parts of the council area due to a standard that is currently pandering to the lowest common denominator on the national stage. My questions of the minister are:

1. When will the government review the minimum energy standard for new residential developments?

2. Will the government support a minimum standard of 6 stars or higher?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (16:49): It is not as simple a question as the honourable member would suggest because, in relation to energy standards, we have a national building code. Through previous COAG decisions under both the current federal government and the previous federal government, there have been attempts to harmonise the building code throughout the country, because we are just 8 per cent of the building market here and the state's building materials travel around the country and many imported components are used. So, it obviously makes sense that we have one country, at least as much as possible, in relation to common building standards.

However, that ideal presents some problems, because we have a substantial geographic variation across the country, from the tropical north, where cyclones occur and where there are high termite attacks, for example, in relation to some building materials (and I know it is not relevant to energy, but it certainly is in relation to other parts of the building code), to areas where there is flooding and land slip or other sorts of risks. For some time now through the COAG agenda ministers have tried to get some common energy standards within this country. I suppose the honourable member is right to some extent; that means that we have a lowest common denominator setting.

There was some discussion by the ministers responsible for the building code to try to lift the rating, but to do it in such a way that is common across the country, because the last thing we need in terms of building codes is for each state to go its own way and have different standards and, therefore, different materials, and so on, applying throughout the country.

While it is important that we move forward generally, in terms of lifting our standards, we need to work in concert with other jurisdictions to ensure that we are all moving forward together in ways that do not create inefficiencies or, if we have different standards through the states, result in markets being segmented. It might end up not only costing more but also even leading to less energy efficiency if we do not have some common standards. I will look at the honourable member's questions and, if there is anything further I can add in relation to those standards, I will bring back a written reply.