Robert Oakeshott (Lyne, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I will start with a letter I received from Tindoz Solar Energy, based in Sydney. It says:

Dear Mr Oakeshott,

Tindoz has postponed her plans to manufacture PV crystalline solar cells in Australia due to lack of government support compared to Germany and various other countries. Tindoz still considers manufacturing PV solar modules in Australia but will build her first production facility in the Netherlands. I have heard that you strongly support a national gross feed-in tariff in Australia. Our company believes that a gross feed-in tariff can play a very important role in increasing the use of renewable energy in Australia and giving consistency to business.

Not only is this about business and providing some consistency to business, a message we heard last night with the passing of the renewable energy bill through this chamber, but it is also about engaging people. What we have seen increasingly over the last two months in watching the political mosh pit deal with this climate change debate is the science of climate change being dominated by the electoral cycle, by vested interests and, in an increasing number of cases, by political donors. This has to stop, and here is an opportunity to engage people in real change and a real move to a new economy.

A national feed-in tariff system is something that COAG is certainly looking at. However, I think it is time for further leadership and for government to really take up the concept of a national feed-in tariff system.

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