Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

They have seen increases in electricity prices and that of course is not about a carbon price. There is no carbon price in operation now, so he cannot possibly be saying to his constituents that the current increases in their electricity bills relate to that. As he well knows, the current increases in their electricity bills relate to underinvestment in distribution networks. That underinvestment needs to be made up for. That is putting price pressure on electricity now and the last thing we should do is add to the uncertainty and add to underinvestment with all of the problems that that would spell for long-term power pricing, as outlined by Deloittes.

Let me go to the member for Paterson's claim about 13,000 job losses and let us try looking at the truth about that. He is referring to a study by Frontier Economics, which is from a few years ago and relates to the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. What he should perhaps tell his constituents is that the Frontier modelling is showing that employment would still grow in the Hunter. That is the truth. More jobs in the Hunter. Then, he may want to tell his constituents the truth about the investments that this government is making in the Hunter to enable it to transition to a clean-energy future. For example, Newcastle is home to the Australian Solar Institute—a $150 million commitment as part of our clean energy initiatives. Is the member opposed to investment in solar energy and the Hunter?

Mr Baldwin interjecting—

No he is not, he says. Then, that is co-located with the CSIRO Energy Centre in Newcastle. Is he opposed to that clean energy future?

Mr Baldwin interjecting—

No, he is not. Then we committed $30 million to the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources. Is he opposed to that?

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