Speech in Parliament – Climate Change
28/09/2011
The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: I wish to speak in favour of the Hon. Mr Parnell’s motion, and against the amendment moved by the Hon. Mr Hunter. I think it is fair to say that there are few issues or instances where I would consider that my age is truly relevant in this parliament; however, I have spoken in this place previously—quite recently, in fact—about the fact that being the youngest member in the South Australian parliament I am very concerned about climate change and its effect on my generation—and, indeed, the generations that will come after me. I read with great concern The Critical Decade and, in particular, the South Australian Impacts, for I believe strongly in the vast majority of notable scientists who point to reams of research and data highlighting temperature increase on this planet.
On a world stage, Australia seems significantly behind the rest of the developed world in debating the issue of climate change and carbon emission reduction, and anything that this chamber can do to further government accountability and raise public awareness is essential. In Adelaide, limited community understanding and a lack of public transport infrastructure and engagement still leave us with a heavy reliance on private cars and fossil fuels. Buses, light rail and bicycles provide better options for our environment and for improved public health outcomes.
In this state, houses are still built without double glazing, without adequate insulation and without enough concern for energy consumption. Yes, uptake of solar energy panels on dwellings is increasing, but still we falter in our long-term commitment to renewable energy sources. I have noted casually that visitors arrive in this country and wonder at our limited use of the incredible wind and solar resources that we have at our disposal in this wide brown land.
The South Australian Impacts chapter of The Critical Decade report points to concerning data regarding sea level rises and consequent flooding along our coastline. South Australia has experienced sea level increases on average of 4.6 millimetres per year for the past 20 years. This is above the global average of 3.2 millimetres. Current projections have us at a doubled risk of coastal flooding in Adelaide.
By the end of the century, as many as 43,000 residential buildings will be at risk of flooding, and that would make the western suburbs of Royal Park and Seaton seafront. The City of Charles Sturt, encompassing the majority of the western suburbs, is looking at the prospect of 14,000 inundated dwellings. Most of that city’s current beachside suburbs would be under water in a flooding event. The impact on rainfall and food production is also negatively forecast by this report. The government has a Minister for Food Marketing, but that will be a pointless exercise if we have no food to market.
I will vote against the government’s amendments to this motion, as I believe it is unwarranted, gratuitous backslapping. Australia is one of the biggest carbon polluters in the world on a per capita basis, and South Australia contributes significantly to this. The Labor government should take note of its heavy reliance on and encouragement of mining finite resources and the consequent carbon footprint that this creates.
I can appreciate the economic benefits of mining to this state, but I would suggest that investment in sustainable renewable resources is essential and the way forward. One would think that the very title of this report, The Critical Decade, gives some indication that current government measures to tackling climate change have not yet been and are not yet enough.
I would also hasten to add that, if this government were really serious about battling climate change, perhaps they would have given more support to the amendments to the electrical products bill recently before us, tabled by Mr Parnell, which sought to give a fairer and more extended solar panel reimbursement scheme.
Action now on climate change is required if we are to arrest carbon emissions and even consider a world that can feed this many inhabitants, just to mention one of the many possible consequences. I commend the original form of the Hon. Mark Parnell’s motion to my colleagues.
