GLOBAL WARMING AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

Mr PETER DRAPER (Tamworth) [12.17 p.m.]: I speak on the topic of global warming and the exploration of renewable energy to prevent the much discussed predictions of catastrophic challenges that may face coming generations possibly living in a hotter and drier future. With the recent Stern report painting a dire picture of the effects of global warming, governments worldwide are only now beginning to take seriously what scientists have been warning for decades. As the worst drought in Australian history continues to decimate water storages in rural Australia, few can deny that we are already feeling the adverse effects of global warming. Of the past 12 years in Australia, 10 have been the hottest on record, and rainfall for the months of September and October in New South Wales was the lowest ever recorded. As we face a long, hot, dry summer, the situation can only worsen and all governments need to cooperate and take urgent action to adopt strategies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Recently in this place I was pleased to contribute to a matter of public importance raised by the honourable member for Manly on renewable energy and biofuels. He urged the Government to get serious about exploring greater uses of renewable energy and biofuels in light of declining world oil reserves and global warming. I congratulate my colleague on raising the issue. Recent debate of Australia's ability to cope with a hotter and drier future prompted a meeting between the Prime Minister and the Premiers of South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales to discuss measures of improving and maintaining our precious water resources. While it is pleasing to see such a meeting take place, very little seems to have been achieved towards addressing the cause of drought in this country—global warming. The cynic in me suggests it was merely a publicity stunt by the Prime Minister in response to growing criticism over his Government's inaction on global warming, and to deflect attention from a rise in interest rates.

Hard decisions need to be made to secure this nation against potential disaster should this drought continue into the future. A recent report by the CSIRO revealed that climate change could see a 60 per cent reduction in rainfall in the Namoi catchment, an area that is home to 100,000 people and contributes $1 billion each year to the State economy. Urgent measures need to be taken to avoid the many negative effects such a large reduction in rainfall could have on that highly productive area.

One problem contributing to global warming is our reliance on non-renewable fossil fuels, which are cheap and abundant but come at a great cost to the environment. Currently, only 8.5 per cent of the New South Wales electricity supply comes from renewable energy, a figure that has decreased from 10 per cent in 1993. Of that 8.5 per cent, 7 per cent comes from the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme. The remaining 1.5 per cent is gathered from solar, wind and bioenergy. The burning of coal has been highlighted as a major contributor to carbon emissions. While I am not against the use of coal, all governments need to work with industry to explore ways of reducing carbon emissions from the burning of this resource.

As the population continues to grow in New South Wales more power stations will be required to feed the energy demand, but it is clear that current practices must be altered to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Global oil reserves are also declining, threatening our very way of life through our reliance on oil as a cheap mode of fuel. Alternatives to these non-renewable fuels must be developed before their depletion. Recent moves to establish a $100 million ethanol plant at Gunnedah must be supported for other regional centres across this State. More support should also be provided to business ventures employing the use of renewable energy.

A recent ABC radio report focused on the plans by Solar Heat and Power to construct a baseload renewable electricity plant in our area that would be capable of meeting the energy needs of a city the size of Tamworth. Such ventures deserve government support but this particular entrepreneur may be forced to move his enterprise offshore, due to Australia's lack of carbon trading schemes, to make his venture competitive in the Australian marketplace. The Premier recently promised that legislation would be introduced after next year's election to ensure that 10 per cent of the electricity consumed in New South Wales by 2010 would come from clean energy sources such as solar and wind power. He pledged that this would rise to 15 per cent by 2020. Such news is welcome, but the jury is still out on whether that would be enough to combat climate change.

Biogas sequestration, biogas from food treatment plants, breweries, wind power, wave power and solar power are the main sources of renewable energy. Sadly, little support has been forthcoming from State and Federal governments to provide the infrastructure that is needed to begin replacing or complementing existing power sources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Strategies to address global warming can be conducted at three levels in this nation—globally, through agreements such as the Kyoto protocol; through policy change, legislation, funding of projects, change of energy production methods and adequate funding of research; and locally, through community projects, lobbying, education and the ongoing development of strategies for individuals and households to practice. We are facing a serious challenge. We must act co-operatively and we must act now.

Mr BRYCE GAUDRY (Newcastle—Parliamentary Secretary) [12.22 p.m.]: I thank the honourable member for raising this critical issue. In future global warming will be the world's greatest challenge, and governments and individuals must meet that challenge. It is astounding that, on a per capita basis, Australia is the number one emitter of CO 2 , which comes down to a profligate use of energy. We also have to come to terms with combating global emissions. The recently release Stern report, which suggests that global warming could shrink the global economy, made a recent convert of the Federal Government on the issue of global warming.

I refer honourable members to the work being done at the moment by the CSIRO Energy Centre in Newcastle. A series of lectures on renewable energy and the importance of dealing with coal-fired power stations are being held at that centre. I am hopeful that, at the conclusion of those six lectures, the centre's report will be available on the Internet. We must educate ourselves on sustainability and on the need to address renewable energy. Currently, as we are dependent on coal-fired energy we must establish whether any mechanisms are available to reduce emissions from coal-fired power stations. I thank the honourable member for Tamworth for raising this important issue.

Proof, NSW Legislative Assembly Hansard