Climate Change Act - Review
Ms BURNET question to MINISTER for ENVIRONMENT and CLIMATE CHANGE, Mr BARNETT
[10.45 a.m.]
Last year's independent review of the Climate Change Act delivered a clear verdict. Your government is not doing enough to prepare Tasmanians for climate change. You don't have to guess at the risks. They were spelt out in black and white in the 2024 Deloitte risk assessment. You know that every dollar spent on adaptation now saves many more down the track when the next disaster hits, and it will. Your government's announcement on Monday about the MOU with the RACT is a move in the right direction, but it's nowhere near the scale of action this climate crisis demands. The independent review didn't just flag the problem, it gave you the fix. It recommended amending the act to require a statewide planning process so that adaptation stops being an afterthought and becomes a legal requirement.
The SPEAKER - The honourable member's time has expired.
ANSWER
I thank the Deputy Speaker for her question. I think it was comments and I think there was an implication of a question coming, but I'm more than happy to respond to the reflections that have been made in terms of that.
I'm certainly pleased and proud to be here as the minister for Environment and Climate Change. Tasmania's got a lot to be thankful for and to be proud of with our zero net emissions being consecutive since 2014, something that is very important. Obviously that's an ambition we continue to have, to be 100 per cent fully self-sufficient in renewable energy with a target to 200 per cent. I know the Minister for Energy and Renewables is very keen on that, together with everyone else. We had strong support across the parliament for that when that legislation moved through the parliament some years ago. As well, there is 50 per cent of the state in National Park, World Heritage and other reserves, way above the targets of other jurisdictions and the federal Labor government.
With respect to climate change, thank you very much for your remarks. I indicate thatI've shared with you via email this morning that the government will be tabling its climate change report and response to that fourth independent review of the Climate Change Act.That will be happening very shortly. That proves that the review has found that we have a very strong foundation here in Tasmania for climate action and that all major planning and reporting requirements under the act have been delivered.
It does acknowledge there's more work to do. I'm very pleased to be able to indicate the government's support, or support in principle, for the various responses with respect to that independent review, and I'll have more to say about that in the not-too-distant future.
As I say, we can be proud of our zero net emissions since 2014 and that was fleshed out in some detail in our response to that report. It's not far away and I look forward to tabling that response. With respect to the other aspects of your question, I'm more than happy to respond directly and meet with you as I have in recent times. I'm looking forward to working with all of the crossbench and across the parliament on this very important topic.
Supplementary Question
Ms BURNET - Thank you, minister. I look forward to reading your tabled response. Strong action is required and we cannot just rely on emissions reduction. We need adaptation action and that requires planning and urgent action. Will your government act on the recommendations from the independent review and prepare a statewide adaptation plan?
Mr BARNETT - Thank you so much for the supplementary question. I can indicate that our response is very comprehensive. I've indicated support or in-principle support for the various recommendations. I appreciate the work from the independent review. We take it very seriously and I acknowledge the former ministers for Environment and Climate Change, Madeleine Ogilvie and Roger Jaensch, on this side of the House -
Mr Abetz - Don't forget me. Three days.
Mr BARNETT - Indeed, and the Treasurer for a very short time. But yes, you will see in that report a very comprehensive response. Adaptation, of course, is a key part to responding to climate change in terms of resilience, in terms of adapting to the change in climate, is absolutely part of the story and part of our response, and you'll see further when I'm able to table that very shortly.