Katie Allen (Higgins, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction. Will the minister please update the House on how the Morrison-McCormack government is working with our international partners to accelerate the development of the technologies we need to reduce emissions here and around the world? Is the minister aware of any alternatives to this approach?

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

I thank the member for Higgins for her question. As a scientist, she knows the power of technology to solve hard problems, including how we bring down emissions whilst maintaining affordable, reliable energy and creating jobs and a strong economy. She knows that technology is the key to that. She also knows that it's all about bringing those clean technologies to cost parity with their higher-emitting alternatives. Then they will be adopted not just in Australia but around the world.

We are doing our bit. We've seen the lowest emissions in Australia since 1990, 20 per cent down on our 2005 levels. Our Technology Investment Roadmap is key to continuing to see that extraordinary performance. Over the next decade, we'll see $80 billion of investment in clean technologies and 160,000 new jobs. We're working with international partners to get the most of these technologies. Those initiatives include partnerships that were signed over the weekend with Singapore, with Germany and with Japan, one of our biggest energy customers. It's all part of a $565 million package to work with international partners to develop and deploy those technologies. That initiative alone will create 2,500 Australian projects.

I am asked about alternatives. The alternative is Labor. So opposed are Labor to this technology led approach that they are opposing $192 million of investment in ARENA. They're opposing 1,400 jobs, and that includes $71 million for electric vehicle charging and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure and $52 million for microgrids in regional Australia. They're opposing $20 million for heavy-vehicle clean technologies and efficiencies and $47 million for energy efficiency in heavy industry. Those opposite are voting against EV charging infrastructure. They're voting against more competitive industry and transport in Australia. They are voting against carbon capture technologies that are supported by the IEA and the IPCC as essential to reaching net zero. The member for Hunter put it succinctly and well. He said, 'It's nothing short of genius: heroically voting against carbon reduction initiatives that Labor actually supports.' Nothing short of genius. Members opposite have no plans, no policies and no idea.

Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.