Adelaide should consider bidding for the world’s biggest climate change meeting, Business SA says

Adelaide should consider the feasibility of hosting the world’s biggest climate change conference - and its foremost glass artist - Business SA says in is pre-budget submission.

The South Australian government should back a proposal to attract globally-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly to hold an exhibition in Adelaide, and should also examine the feasibility of hosting a United Nations COP climate change conference, Business SA says.

In its State Budget Submission ahead of the release of the budget in June, the organisation says it is possible to boost the state’s national and international profile, without putting undue pressure on the budget bottom line.

Business SA chief executive Andrew Kay said the submissions included “practical and innovative” ideas which wouldn’t break the bank.

“We appreciate this budget comes during a time of economic recovery from Covid-19 and the River Murray flood disaster, so we have endeavoured to supply recommendations providing maximum impact for South Australia without great cost to the State Government,” Mr Kay said.

Outdoor gardens of hand-blown glass at Seattle's Chihuly Garden and Glass gallery, featuring the work of artist and Seattle native Dale Chihuly. Photo Seanna Cronin / APN

US-based Chihuly is perhaps the world’s foremost glass artist working on a large scale, and exhibited in Adelaide 23 years ago, when his works were displayed at JamFactory and sites around the city including the Rotunda in Elder Park.

Business SA said the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium was currently considering the feasibility of staging a Chihuly exhibition, and said the government should support the project, which would cost $4m-5m to stage.

Business SA said much of the cost would be offset through ticket sales, and that the State Government could help make it happen with $1.67m in taxpayer support, in turn giving the state’s international profile a huge boost.

“Dale Chihuly’s botanic gardens exhibits have become iconic projects around the world,’’ Business SA said.

“His most recent exhibitions have attracted over one million visitors at London’s Kew Gardens and over half a million at Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay.’’

Business SA also says holding a UN COP meeting, such as were held in 2021 in Glasgow and 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, would put the state on the world map and align well with the state’s green credentials.

Tom Lind from Chihuly Studio and glass sculpture art by Dale Chihuly at the rotunda in Elder Park back in April, 2000.

“Hosting the COP would attract between 20,000 and 30,000 people (COP26 in Glasgow had

record attendance - 40,000), boost the economy and further cement our credentials as a global

leader in renewable energy, enhancing Adelaide’s global reputation,’’ Business SA said.

“If deemed feasible, a submission would need to be put in well ahead of time, as the COP Secretariat sends a fact-finding mission 18 months before the event to assess the proposed city and its venues.’’

Business SA said a feasibility study would first need to be carried out to assess how Adelaide and its surrounds could host the large number of attendees and events involved.

Business SA will today put 15 recommendations to the state government, with other suggested measures including developing a program to help small to medium-sized businesses get involved in the defence industry, lifting the payroll tax threshold, and putting in place a 50 per cent payroll tax discount for businesses in regional areas.

The Full List of Business SA’s State Budget Recommendations

1. Sponsor an exhibition by world-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly;

2. Conduct a feasibility study on Adelaide’s potential hosting of the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP);

3. Reinvigorate Adelaide’s Sister City programs to spark genuine transfer of knowledge, skills and trade between cities;

4. Introduce a State Government-funded, paid internship program to encourage university graduates to start their careers in South Australia;

5. Create a program to connect overseas migrants with prospective South Australian employers;

6. Roll out an awareness campaign about the benefits of the Temporary Graduate – Post Study Work Visa;

7. Subsidise a portion of skilled migrants’ visa fees to attract them to South Australia;

8. Establish a fund providing micro-grants for businesses to conduct energy audits and invest in generating and storing renewable energy;

9. Introduce a Circular Economy Procurement Fund to promote and drive the transition from a linear to a circular economy;

10. Introduce an all-electric and/or hydrogen public transport fleet with supporting infrastructure;

11. Introduce a program to build a South Australian small business ecosystem to ensure our SMEs are defence ready;

12. Ensure the Return to Work Scheme average premium rate will not rise above 1.9 per cent;

13. SafeWork SA must be adequately resourced to effectively administer the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 & deliver the outcomes expected in the Australian Work Health Safety Strategy 2023 – 2033 and recommendations of the Independent Review of SafeWork SA 2022;

14. Lift the payroll tax threshold;

15. Encourage business development and investment in regional South Australia by introducing a 50 per cent payroll tax discount.