Jerome Laxale (Bennelong, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Water. How is the government's Future Made in Australia plan accelerating the approval of renewable energy projects? How will these projects make energy cleaner and cheaper for all Australians, and what approaches has the government ruled out and why?

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

I thank the member for Bennelong for his question. I know that he and his constituents are huge supporters of the transition to renewable energy in this country and of a future made in Australia. The energy transition is real. It's happening right now. You see it in the 25 per cent increase in renewable energy in our electricity grid. You see it in the faster approvals for renewable energy projects and the cheaper, cleaner energy entering our grid. You see it in the 55 projects that we have ticked off so far and the three million homes that will be supported with that cleaner, cheaper renewable energy. You see it in the 136 projects that are in the pipeline.

I'll mention just a couple that I have ticked off recently. There's the Palmer Wind Farm in South Australia, enough to power 144,000 homes. That project is the right project in the right place. It took just nine weeks for that kick-off to come through. There's the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone, enough to power 1.8 million homes. It will have 5,000 jobs during peak construction. That renewable energy future is being built right now. In the meanwhile—right now, immediately—we are offering $300 in energy bill relief for Australian households and $350 for small businesses.

What is the contrast? The contrast from those opposite was nine years of delay and inaction. It was nine years of denial. They were told 24 coal-fired power stations were closing on their watch. Where was the plan for the replacement electricity generation? Where was the plan for the workers? And, now, what is their plan for electricity? Their plan is to spend $600 billion of taxpayers' money that could be spent on hospitals, roads and schools. No, they are going to spend that on nuclear reactors so we can have electricity in 20 years time. Their plan for cheaper energy now will deliver in 20 years time. What you have as a contrast between those opposite and those on this side is a nine-year go-slow versus nine-week approvals.

By the way, if those opposite want to see more faster approvals for housing, critical minerals and all of those things that we need to see to create jobs and wealth in this country then they should be backing our environmental law reforms in the Senate. They'll mean better protections for nature and faster, clearer decisions for business.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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