Helen Haines (Indi, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

Absolutely—I would be delighted to. There are thousands of good jobs in renewable energy right now across Australia, and we could grow hundreds of thousands more jobs in export oriented manufacturing if we were smart enough to capture the endless low-cost renewable energy that shines down upon our continent every single day. We are on the precipice of another gold rush but, instead, the government is looking to keep us in the Bronze Age. Setting the goal of net zero emissions by 2050 and putting in place smart policies that cut emissions quickly is the single-best thing we could do to drive the economy in the regions. To meet our domestic electricity needs whilst also growing new clean export industries, Australia will need to quadruple our supply of electricity and switch it all to renewable sources. That will mean hundreds of billions of dollars invested into regional Australia. We know the world is moving to things like green hydrogen, green steel and green aluminium. I believe that instead of importing them all from other countries we should be exporting these products from regional Australia to the world.

The bill before us sets out a framework through which we can pursue this bright economic agenda. It sets out in law a commitment that the vast majority of Australians support: that we will decarbonise our economy by the middle of the century. And it requires the government of the day to set out detailed plans to meet those legislated emission reductions targets. I've worked closely with the member for Warringah to make this bill robust and to make sure the bill will deliver for the regions. I've inserted a 'regional economic safeguard' mechanism that requires the new climate commission to make sure that regional Australia secures an equitable share of the economic benefits of zero net emissions. I've inserted a 'regions first' clause that requires the climate commission to implement a strategy to maximise economic benefits for rural and regional Australia, and I've inserted a 'regions at the table' rule that says the board of the new climate commission must have expertise in regional development.

As a regional Australian who wants to see my region thrive long into the future, in my short time in this place I've put in the work, inside this place and with my community, to develop sensible, considered policies like this one. While the member for Petrie would rather I not mention the National Party, I have to ask: in eight years—eight years—what have they actually done to tackle the climate problem in regional Australia? What have they done for the farmers? What have they done for the regional jobs in our towns? I'm proud to second this bill.

Debate adjourned.

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