Adam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House concurs with the resolution relating to the reduction of energy use in Parliament House.

The 10 Per Cent campaign is a challenge to individuals and businesses to reduce their energy consumption, electricity and fuel by 10 per cent, and it is a great practical campaign being run by Do Something and by Choice. The motion before us passed the Senate on the voices and has been sent to the House for concurrence.

Parliament House easily has the capacity to meet this challenge and the Department of Parliamentary Services has the capacity to facilitate these reduction targets. Other organisations that have signed up to the 10 Per Cent challenge include Bunnings, Visy, Unilever, Toyota, Sensis, the University of Canberra and, notably, News Limited. I for one would hate to see a situation where this Parliament House was trailing News Limited when it came to energy innovation initiatives.

One of the practical consequences will be to provide some real leadership from this parliament to Australians about the benefits of cutting their electricity bills through energy efficiency. It is clear that one of the greatest steps we can take to reduce energy use is also the one that is going to reduce people's power bills. That is true in the home. It is estimated that somewhere between 30 and 40 per cent savings can be made on energy bills simply through energy efficiency measures. And that is true here. By reducing our reliance on energy here in Parliament House we will of course be saving a significant amount of taxpayer dollars. It is also an example of practical leadership, one that I would hope all sides of parliament and all members of this House would support. I commend the motion to the House.

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