David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Water. Can the minister advise how many hectares of remnant vegetation will be cleared for the 106 renewable projects that have received or are awaiting your ministerial approval?

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Leader of the Nationals for that question because it allows me to talk about how I am so proud of the fact that we are approving renewable energy projects at twice the rate of those opposite, because we are committed on this side to a net zero future for Australia.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members on my left will cease interjecting. The Leader of the Nationals has asked a question.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Of course, land clearing is an issue that both state and territory and Commonwealth governments need to address. I'll tell you what: you don't avoid land clearing by building the coalmines that those opposite say we should be replacing renewable energy projects with. You'd rather not build renewable energy. I'm proud of the fact that I am part of a government that has legislated a pathway to net zero. Those opposite had 22 separate energy policies, and they didn't land one of them.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will take a break. I will hear from the Leader of the Nationals.

David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I raise a point of order on relevance. It's a very, very specific question around the number of remnant hectares that will be cleared for renewable projects. It is very specific. We've endured a third of her time—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You may resume your seat. Yes, the question did require a number. It was about renewable energy. I want to deal with this issue. Standing order 104 simply says the minister 'must be relevant'. She's talking about renewable energy. Yes, I know you've asked a specific question, but under the standing orders she's answering the question directly. If you'd like to change the standing orders, go right ahead, but at the moment that is what you're dealing with, on page 53 of standing orders.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm proud of the fact that we want to support upgrading transmission lines across the east coast grid. We've got $20 billion to invest in that so that we can take the 82 per cent renewable energy that we are committed to achieving in 82 months—great work—get that into the transmission lines, get it into people's homes, get it into people's businesses, bring down their energy bills and bring down pollution in this country as well. We've got a commitment to bring down emissions when it comes to electric vehicles as well.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Leader of the Nationals will cease interjecting or will be warned.

Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's really interesting that those opposite don't want to hear about our plans for renewable energy, our plans to upgrade transmission lines and our plans to bring down emissions, because they had 22 energy policies and didn't land a single one. He's embarrassed by the fact that they never landed a single one. You know what? I've got 101 renewable energy projects before me right now, and I am delighted by the fact that we've got more renewable energy projects coming in all the time, because renewable energy is good for the environment. It's good for Australian households. It's good for Australian businesses. Dealing with climate change is one of the best things that we can do for the Australian environment. The idea that those opposite are against land clearing, given their record on grasslands—Jam Land, the land clearing that those opposite supported— (Time expired)