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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 1131 asked in the Legislative Council on 20 October 2020 by Hon Diane Evers

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

CORONAVIRUS — CLIMATE CHANGE

1131. Hon DIANE EVERS to the minister representing the Treasurer:

I note the mention of risks on page 18 of budget paper No 3 and the considered risks of a COVID-19 second wave, the stimulus supports ceasing or demand not being strong enough to drive growth, the uncertainty of a COVID-19 vaccine, and the possibility of China's increased construction activity leading to an eventual weakening of its financial system.

(1) As the Labor government has previously admitted its acknowledgement of peer-reviewed science proving beyond doubt that the atmosphere of the planet has changed and will continue to change due to the impacts of human habitation, does the Treasurer understand that this will pose risks for the state, the budget and the economy?

(2) Does the Treasurer intend to acknowledge the likely costs of these risks to our health budgets, infrastructure budgets and other department budgets associated with these risks within the 2021–22 budget?

(3) Does the Treasurer recognise that these risks will become more likely and incur greater costs until the factors causing climate change are reversed?

Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.

(1) Yes.

(2) Work has commenced on a public sector approach to assessing and reporting climate change risk, and understanding its impact on agency costs. However, it is unlikely that this work will be completed in time for the 2021–22 budget.

(3) Yes.