Premier Jay Weatherill has distanced himself from comments made by his Environment Minister supporting a state-based emissions trading scheme.

Weatherill told parliament yesterday there would be “substantial constitutional barriers” which would prevent South Australia introducing such a scheme unilaterally.

“We think a state-based emissions trading scheme is unlikely to be successful or even possible, frankly,” said Weatherill.

“There are some very substantial constitutional barriers which would prevent us from introducing such a scheme.”

Weatherill said the State Government instead supported a national emissions trading scheme.

Environment Minister Ian Hunter told InDaily last week that if the Federal Government was “adamant” on rejecting a national ETS, then an state-based scheme “might be a reasonable option”.

He said he hoped Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull would embrace a national scheme so that an interstate scheme wouldn’t be necessary.

“I sincerely hope (Turnbull’s) early pledge to stick with the derided ‘direct action’ policy makes way for a proper commitment, and that state-based schemes won’t be required,” he said.

“I personally favour a national emissions trading scheme – I think that’s the only rational way forward.

“But if the Federal Government is adamant that it won’t proceed down that track, then having a look at what California’s doing might be a reasonable option for us.

“That is something we’re considering, but we need to gather the information about that before we can make a judgement about that.”

Hunter later sought to water down his comments, although he has so far failed to identify any errors in our original story.