Legislative Council Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1) 53 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Climate Council Climate Council The Hon. M.C. PARNELL Legislative Council Climate Council The Hon. M.C. PARNELL (14:55): Supplementary: does the minister accept that this government's ambition to extract even more fossil fuels from the South Australian environment, including unconventional gas from the South-East, will in fact set back the cause of climate change mitigation in this state? The Hon. I.K. HUNTER Legislative Council Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Climate Council The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:56): I have tried to educate the honourable member previously on these matters, but about going cold turkey on fossil fuels, you cannot do it without wrecking your economy. You need to transition. Gas is seen to be a good transition fuel. I have no other source to refer to today other than the Climate Council's own report, which states: South Australian policy settings make it a highly desirable location for renewable energy investment…In 2011 South Australia released its A Renewable Energy Plan for South Australia…with the aim to make South Australia the most attractive investment destination for renewable energy. The plan outlined initiatives such as: Introducing legislation to provide renewable energy developers with access to Crown Land areas subject to pastoral lease. Supporting the design and implementation of a concept model for community-owned solar. Consulting on a specific limit on carbon emissions for new electricity generation. Supporting concentrating solar power for heat and electricity in Port Augusta. The Climate Council recognises that you need a government that will take on leadership in these areas to transition to a low-carbon economy. That is what South Australia has done, that is what we will continue to do, and we will get rewarded by reports such as this, which actually outlines how much states and territories can do when you have a recalcitrant federal government dragging its heels.