Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Fisher for his question. Of course, he knows, as we all do on this side of the House, that the way to reduce emissions and to deliver affordable, reliable energy is to be technology led. As someone who worked in traditional industries, like the construction industry as a builder, before he came into this place, he knows how important this is for our traditional industries. That is why we're focusing on technology, not taxes—not taxes—and on reducing the cost of low-emission technologies and not increasing the cost of traditional technologies and increasing the cost of electricity.

We have seen one in four houses in Australia with solar on their roofs, but we're also focused on a portfolio of technologies that deliver that affordable, reliable energy which has been such an important part of Australia's competitive advantage. We're positioning Australia for success, transparently: $20 billion in our Technology Investment Roadmap, which will bring forward $80 billion of public and private sector investment in the coming years, and 160,000 jobs in the coming decade from that Technology Investment Roadmap. This is not about imposing new costs on Australian households and businesses. And it's not about raising the price of electricity or destroying jobs in traditional industries because, at the end of the day, there are only two ways to reduce emissions: technology or taxes, and we have picked technology.

But those opposite choose tax every time. We heard it again on the weekend. The Leader of the Opposition doubled down on his approach to a technology led focus for bringing down emissions, describing it as 'absurd'. He described it as absurd! He described our clean energy focus as absurd. Labor voted against a technology led approach seven times. They will not be happy until Australians pay more tax.

We heard this from the shadow finance minister in the last week or so, that Labor is considering reintroducing an electricity tax. He said it, 'We are looking at everything.' That's what he said, 'We are looking at everything.'

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