Garth Hamilton (Groom, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

The Toowoomba region is a poster child of this government's 'technology not taxes' approach to driving Australia's energy future. In my electorate we're reaping the rewards of entrepreneurial companies, guided by the best research and newest technologies, investing in power sources across the spectrum—from gas to solar, blue hydrogen and even green hydrogen. We take an energy-agnostic view on the Darling Downs. As a government, we trust Australians. We trust their choices when it comes to energy provision. We know that the future energy landscape must be driven and created by market forces. It will be in the private sector, seeking efficiencies in power usage and water consumption, that reductions in our carbon emissions will be secured. We are willing to invest in what works. Of course, this next chapter in our resource sector story is built off the back of the skills and knowledge from traditional projects like the New Acland Coal Mine, which I still hold out hope will be part of our energy mix going forward. All we're waiting for is the Queensland government to give us the go-ahead for stage 3.

What might be interesting for those who haven't travelled up to the range are the type of companies who are leading the way in developing technology that will reduce emissions going into the future. Take, for example, Mort & Co. This company started 24 years ago as a small, family owned livestock agency before moving into the feedlot game on the Darling Downs. They've grown into a global exporter, with more than 99,000 head of cattle across two sites. At one point, you could stand at the Grassdale Feedlot and see them all in the fantastic facilities they have available. They're also adding value to their business by expanding into fertiliser, and this Australian first system will be operational in July this year, creating extra jobs. The fertiliser will improve the quality of the soil, will offset a large waste component of the business and will, most crucially, add to our ability to increase our carbon capture capacity not just locally but around the state. Mort & Co of their own accord are also formulating a policy to report against their emissions, undertaking a baseline emissions study to inform their sustainability goals in a data driven way. They were encouraged to take this approach, because this government has decided to lead industry with a carrot and not a stick.

The Toowoomba region's uptake of new technologies is also enticing companies from outside of Queensland and even Australia to look to set up shop here. Recently I was able to attend a field day near Norwin on the edge of my electorate to see an innovative Israeli irrigation technology in action. The N-Drip microirrigation system was being tested on a cotton crop planted on a well-established property, and the early results are quite promising. This year, despite there being heavy rainfall, we were seeing somewhere around a 35 per cent reduction in water consumption for the crop with the N-Drip as opposed to a traditional crop. We expect that number to rise to around 55 per cent in dry times. There were a lot of very interested local farmers who came out to see the concept, saw the benefits themselves and are very interested in implementing it.

The technology reduces consumption of that precious resource water. Most importantly, it's a low-pressure system, so it considerably reduces the amount of power used to irrigate. N-Drip's confidence in our 'technology not taxes' approach has also led them to commit to starting manufacturing and recycling the tape system used in the system. I'm very hopeful that that manufacturing takes place in Toowoomba. I think it would be a great story for N-Drip to base there with us. More to come. This will create more jobs, more opportunities and more confidence amongst the local farmers who take up this solution in my local area.

I could go on. I will mention the fantastic work of FKG, who are investing in low emissions shed horticulture and are using solar to power their impressive Pulse Data Centre site. The University of Southern Queensland has researchers, especially within the agricultural space, finding ways to translate their cutting-edge work into on-the-ground applications.

Going forward, I'm hopeful we can continue to grow the Toowoomba region's energy legacy, especially the opportunities arising from this government's investment in clean hydrogen. With our proximity to existing gas pipeline networks and experienced businesses already interested in stepping up, I truly believe we could offer a strong case to host a hub on the Darling Downs, a case I've already put to the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Angus Taylor, on a recent visit to Toowoomba. He came out to the TSBE energy awards at Dalby. As the member for Groom, representing my electorate, I believe technology will drive our region's future. I'm backing businesses to rise to the challenge of emissions reduction.

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