Murray-Darling Basin Plan

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:19): My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Minister, will you update the house on the recently launched regional adaptation plan for the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin and how this plan will better prepare the region to adapt to the challenges of a changing climate?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:20): I thank the honourable member for his excellent question.

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins: Perhaps you can tell us if they did invite the district council of The Rural City of Murray Bridge, given you were going there. They got left off, didn't they?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: I have no idea what the honourable member is saying, but let's—

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins: No. Ask your department.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: I'm sure on reflection he'll work out that he has no idea what he is saying either. Mr President, recently—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: —in the climate summit in New York the UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon, warned that humanity has never faced a greater challenge than climate change. He also said: 'To ride this storm we need all hands on deck.' I am pleased that in South Australia we are well on the way to getting all hands on deck. I had the great pleasure of joining locals in Murray Bridge on Friday 10 October to officially launch the Murray-Darling Basin regional adaptation plan.

This is one of 12 regional adaptation plans that we have finalised for each of our geographical regions by 2016 as a result of strategic plan targets that this government has set for itself. These plans reflect the regionally driven approach that government has adopted and the significant commitment of local leaders across sectors. These plans are innovative and effective, and have received international acclaim and awards. It makes me very proud indeed to report that our regional adaptation plans were one of only two policy initiatives to be highlighted in the Climate Group's 'States and Regions Report' published during Climate Week in New York.

The report states that, while national governments seem to be stuck in entrenched debates, regions are implementing innovative policies that are motivated by local needs, aimed at overcoming specific barriers and designed to do more with less government spending. Not only do these plans involve the entire local community, local authorities and sectors in establishing the plan, they are also tailored to the specific geographical, social, economic and environmental needs of the particular region.

The South Australian government has consistently led the way in taking real and decisive action on climate change, and we have demonstrated that we are not afraid to set ourselves ambitious targets. The regional adaptation plans are another example of our commitment. The many sectors and groups involved in drawing up the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin adaptation plan have to be commended for their great leadership. It is the culmination of two years of hard work and consultation, involving information and knowledge from a multitude of sectors, across local government, Indigenous groups, emergency services groups, health, regional development, the business community and the citizens of the area.

Importantly, this plan is not only designed to make the region more resilient to the effects of climate change, it also sets out a course for the region to take advantage of the opportunities that will arise through the process of adapting. This is particularly important, because while the scientists and the experts are unequivocal about the potentially devastating effects of climate change, they are equally unequivocal about the fact that we can do something about it. As the chair of the intergovernmental panel on climate change, Dr Rajendra Pachauri, stated during his recent address to the UN climate summit in New York:

I'm not sure if I could stand before you if the threats of climate change had no solutions, but they do. We already have the means to build a better, more sustainable world.

Here in South Australia, we have seen firsthand the enormous economic opportunities that exist in the areas of renewable energy and sustainable industries. Locally, this could mean new varieties of agricultural produce, dryland farming and irrigated horticulture. It could also involve creating jobs through new services to cope with the effects of climate change or adapting essential services. Of course, water is a very important part of this particular region, so it is not surprising that one of the proposals includes improving water use efficiency, which is essential for the long-term viability of the irrigation sector.

The Murray-Darling Basin adaptation plan is the result of a concerted effort, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved for their contribution. In particular, I wish to acknowledge the leadership of the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board and all the participants in the steering group, including Regional Development Australia (Murraylands and Riverland), Country Health SA, Emergency Management, the Ngarrindjeri community, the DEWNR climate change unit and the Murray Mallee Local Government Association.

This collaborative approach demonstrates how diverse sectors can come together to work towards building a resilient region today and for our future generations. This plan gives me great hope in our ability to tackle the challenges ahead and create sustainable and resilient regions for generations to come. If we grasp the opportunities, they actually set up our state and our regions to become innovative employers in new green technologies.