Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Our government is committed to northern Australia, committed to net zero and committed to becoming a renewable energy superpower. Australia is lucky, of course, to be one of the sunniest places in the world, with some of the best solar and wind opportunities that exist on the planet. Our government, the Albanese government, is harnessing those opportunities and executing the lowest-cost pathway to a clean, affordable, reliable and resilient energy system. Our reliable renewables plan is the only plan that is backed by experts to deliver clean, affordable, reliable and renewable energy, when and where it is needed, firmed with batteries and storage, and gas when needed during times of high demand.

Labor's plans to become a renewable energy superpower are well underway, with a 25 per cent increase in two years in our national grid in the cheapest and cleanest form of new generation renewable energy. These are facts that the Greens political party and others like to forget, but it is the reality. Since the Albanese government came to power in May 2022, 13 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity has entered the grid.

When it comes to Middle Arm, the north is playing a critical role in supporting the nation's transition to a net zero economy, developing the critical minerals industry, implementing the government's national defence strategy and closing the gap on First Nations disadvantage. The Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct will play a key role in the transition to a net zero economy. Again, the Greens political party and others want to pretend that it doesn't. They want to say it is all about gas and fossil fuels. In fact, they won't even take briefings on Middle Arm, because they don't want to hear from the critical minerals company and renewable energy companies like SunCable that they really think Middle Arm is essential—'vital' is what they say. So, of course, the Greens do not want to be briefed on that. It does not fit their narrative.

SunCable and other companies are set to harness the Northern Territory's world-class solar resource driving green energy—or, as I've said before, I prefer to talk about it as 'golden green energy', because it is coming from the sun and it is electricity that is going to pump into Darwin, firing up green industries and also into the region, helping them with their renewable energy targets at the same time.

This will drive a new wave of green industrial development at Middle Arm and beyond. As I have said, these new green industries, powered by golden power include critical minerals processing, hydrogen, ammonia, sustainable aviation fuels and data centres. Of course, the Greens political party like to pretend, as I said, that it has nothing to do with our renewable energy future. They would rather go and hire some quite expensive inflatable kayaks and go and stop coal exports from getting out of Newcastle Harbour, but it's all performative. There are hardworking people who work in that industry in Newcastle.

The Greens member has asked up here. It is performative. It is always performative with them. It is not about the real business of government. The real business of government is actually delivering a renewable energy future—transitioning and looking after workers, making sure there is a just transition. But, no, they get in the kayaks and head out into the harbour and pretend they are doing something worthwhile. Territorians and Australians know better, and I am sure the working people of the Hunter absolutely know better. Our regional neighbours know better as well. Our kids' futures lie with the renewable energy revolution and the Territory is at the forefront of that future. What is going to help us get there and help other trading partners of ours get there is us having a sensible plan for the future as part of global efforts.

Now, when it comes to renewable energy approvals, our government has ticked off 65 renewable energy projects since coming to office—and I can't wait to hear about that from the Greens member—the country's biggest-ever renewable energy project in the Territory that we are incredibly proud of, as well as new wind farms, massive new solar farms in Queensland, and in Victoria a massive battery system, to name a few. We're trying to make up for a decade of wasted time but we are not wasting a minute.

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