Estimates - Premier - Environment

CHAIR - Premier, I note in the budget paper 1, in General Government Sector Expense by Purpose, Environmental Protection is coming in at $262.1 million, which is only 2 per cent of the Budget. Today you spoke about the Disaster Resilience and Recovery Strategy and the fact that this is housed in DPAC. Do you recognise that action on climate change adaptation is largely trying to achieve the same thing as what your disaster resilience strategy is trying to achieve? This is also consistent with the approach recommended by Mr Trowbridge - who's come up a number of times in today's committee hearing. In his report on TasInsure to address risks from climate change to reduce insurance premiums. Premier, wouldn't it make sense for DPAC, which is also taking on energy, to also take on climate change, so it's all kept together - and for you to take on this most pressing of issues? 

Mr ROCKLIFF - The Budget continues investment in practical environmental work that supports climate resilience, adaptation and long-term preparedness. This includes continued work across environmental monitoring, natural values protection, scientific capability and risk-based environmental oversight that supports Tasmania's resilience to changing climate conditions. Protecting biodiversity, improving environmental data, supporting preparedness for smoke, fire, drought and changing environmental conditions and strengthening long-term ecosystem resilience remain important, practical, climate-related priorities within the Environment portfolio. That reflects a practical focus on resilience, science and preparedness - which you went to in your question. I'm confident the areas around climate change, in Environment, are appropriately supported by the new arrangements. 

CHAIR - But it's only 2 per cent of the Budget, or the expenses from the general government sector on climate change. 

Mr ROCKLIFF - I'm sure you could look at areas right across the whole of government when it comes to climate change. Investment in planning, investment in Marinus Link, in renewable energy, in policy development. You've mentioned insurance as well. These areas, right across government, if you add all those up, you could successfully argue there's significant investment across the whole of government when it comes to the matters that you speak of.