Gary Gray (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Resources) Share this | Hansard source

I have a series of questions for the minister, some of which he may wish to take on notice and write back to me about. The first one deals with the ACCC inquiry into the east coast gas markets. Can the minister provide an update on the east coast gas market and the current ACCC inquiry? It is an important inquiry. It is an inquiry that has received deep bipartisan support, and its progress is important. I am pleased to hear the minister's continued strong support for markets and market solutions to our energy issues. Linked with that, the New South Wales government has, of course, challenged a Commonwealth regulator in its decision on network costs in New South Wales. This is a challenge which I have characterised as being a desire by the New South Wales government to 'fatten the pig before it is taken to market'. I would appreciate the minister's considered view of the Commonwealth's position on that matter, and hope that what we hear is that the Commonwealth will not be supporting the New South Wales government and will ask the New South Wales government to desist in its threats to that decision.

We are all aware of and concerned about the east coast gas price movements. One potential step in that process may be the North East Gas Interconnector, as we have often referred to it in public statements. Where are we with that? The energy white paper spoke of the need to conduct an assessment of Australia's energy security. Can the minister provide an update on the scope and timing of that assessment? In particular, the International Energy Agency stockholding requirements could place a crippling cost burden on Australia's transport fuel industry. I would be interested in the minister's consideration of that issue as, for me, it is a matter of concern that the IEA's stockholding requirement may place a very significant cost on the Australian economy and on transport users.

Finally, Minister, a matter which I know is dear to your heart and to mine: Geoscience Australia. I understand that, currently, Geoscience Australia has nine graduate positions and is planning to make 13 offers in the coming year. From what I understand, there is a very large number of applicants for these positions—around 150. Normally, we would be used to a figure of about a third of that, about 50. One hundred and fifty is a particularly high number. Does the minister believe that we have a sufficient number of current graduate positions in Geoscience Australia to support Geoscience's needs or can we look forward to increases in that number over the budgeted number of 13?

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