Low Emission Vehicle Strategy

The Hon. M.C. PARNELL (14:48): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation on the subject of South Australia's low emission vehicle strategy.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M.C. PARNELL: In June 2012, the government announced South Australia's first low emission vehicle strategy. The then minister for environment (Hon. Paul Caica) said at the time that the purpose was to capture the opportunities offered by new vehicle technologies. The low emission vehicle strategy itself is a short document with the aim to help transition South Australia to a large-scale shift to new technology by 2016.

It uses a rather crude traffic light measurement scale to indicate whether the government's key performance indicators are being met or otherwise, and specifically focuses on the uptake of hybrid and non-conventionally fuelled vehicles both within the total South Australian vehicle landscape and the fleet operated by the government through Fleet SA. Since 2010 the numbers of hybrid vehicles in Fleet SA has actually decreased both in absolute and percentage terms, and we are still waiting on the interim strategy report which was due in June this year. My questions are:

1. Has the government abandoned or reduced the purchase of hybrid vehicles for the state fleet; if so, why?

2. Will the government now revise its targets and strategies for low emission vehicles consistent with its recent decision to revise the state's Renewable Energy Target?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:50): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. I will have to consult with my colleague in the other place and bring back a response in terms of an across government policy. In terms of an interim strategy report, I was not aware that was due to be published this year. I will have to check that with my department and bring that back to the house as well.