Simon Crean (Hotham, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Hansard source

was that the regions get the significance of moving to a cleaner carbon future. Indeed, local governments and communities have set themselves carbon reduction targets. They have identified through mission statements the need to move to a cleaner energy future and they are embracing programs that encourage this very direction. Those programs in themselves have led to investment, jobs and a better environment.

An example of this is Geraldton, Western Australia, which is a city that is committed to moving to carbon neutrality and a city that is looking to renewable energy to power the significant development that is occurring in the resources industry. Investec, a company that is interested in solar energy investment around that region, has made the point recently that, whilst it has undertaken the feasibility study, it would not be economic under current conditions. However, with the announcement of the Prime Minister's package, it now says that it is viable. That is also the case in Whyalla, a place that the Leader of the Opposition visited; he swaggered into OneSteel and said, 'You'll be wiped off the face of the earth.' But what is Whyalla saying?

Mr Pyne interjecting—

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