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

I have received a letter from the honourable member for Brisbane proposing that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely:

The urgent need for the Government to stop new coal and gas approvals so we can tackle the climate crisis, reduce our emissions, and protect our environment.

I call upon those honourable members who approve of the proposed discussion to rise in their places.

More than the number of members required by the standing orders having risen in their places—

Stephen Bates (Brisbane, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The science is clear. Climate pollution from gas, oil and coal is driving more intense and more frequent weather and disasters. We're already experiencing horrible summers of deadly bushfires, flooding and immense heat and humidity. According to reports earlier this month, it's possible that this year we have already passed 1.5 degrees Celsius of human-caused warming; 1.5 degrees was meant to be the limit, and now we have sailed past it. We're in the midst of a climate crisis right now, and we must act urgently. The planet has a very specific and tight deadline for us. We cannot negotiate with that.

Research published this year indicates that Australia was the third-largest exporter of primary fossil fuels behind only Russia and the USA. When we translate this into exported emissions, Australia comes second because of the sheer size of our coal exports. From 1961 to 2023, Australia's fossil fuel exports have been responsible for emitting 30 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. All this pollution—and for what? It all gets dug up and exported, with fossil fuel giants pocketing huge profits and everyday Australians left to bear the consequences. Successive Labor and coalition governments have failed to adequately tax fossil fuel companies, and the profits of those mining booms have gone offshore. At least countries like Norway have the decency to properly tax their resources sector so citizens have something to show for it. What Australians see in return for our fossil fuel exports are increasingly severe bushfires, floods and heatwaves. We're seeing insurance costs soar, with more and more homes becoming uninsurable altogether. Collectively, Australians are paying $20 billion more today on insurance than we were only 10 years ago.

Government action and inaction have shifted the cost and burden of the climate disaster off fossil fuel companies and directly onto people and communities. Since coming to office, this Labor government has approved 28 new coal and gas projects. This government is also seeking to expand fossil fuels past 2050 as part of their Future Gas Strategy. This strategy will see gas exports soar, exporting billions of tonnes of emissions, which is inconsistent with achieving net zero and completely inconsistent with the science. Emissions would need to decline at an average of 14.5 million tonnes a year to meet Labor's 2030 target, and the steepest cuts would need to occur right now. But, instead, the data shows us that emissions reductions have stalled since Labor came to office.

Approving renewable power generation is great, but we cannot put the fire out while we pour more petrol on it. We need to tackle climate change from all angles, and that means stopping new fossil fuel approvals. Forty per cent of our power grid is already renewables, so we don't need new coal and gas. The public wants stronger action on climate change. Each day we wait is another opportunity for the government to approve more and more fossil fuel projects. Our climate and our wildlife cannot afford further delay. Then, of course, we have the coalition, who may or may not even believe climate change is real. It's still a TBD. They've proposed concepts of a plan for nuclear reactors that would take 15 to 25 years to implement. The reality is our coal-fired power stations are going to close, and we are going to need to implement alternatives much sooner than 15 to 25 years from now. We cannot wait until the last minute. We should be working to the planet's timeline, not to the timeline and profits of fossil fuel companies. Australia is one of the sunniest and windiest countries on earth. Like I said, around 40 per cent of our national energy already comes from renewables. It's the lowest-cost and quickest way of building new energy, and it is the obvious choice.

As we head into the federal election, it is not 'mission accomplished' on climate. Emissions are not going down; they have stalled. Fossil fuel projects are still being approved, and the fossil fuel industry is still being subsidised to the tune of billions of dollars every year. 'Mission accomplished' looks like a decarbonised economy, 100 per cent publicly owned renewable power, greater protections for our environment and biodiversity, and no new fossil fuels, for a start. We owe it to ourselves to be bold, to follow the science and to make sure Australia is not left behind, at the back of the pack, in a decarbonised world. I don't want us to be sitting here in 10 years wishing we had done more when we had the chance. The time is now. We have to do more now.

Josh Wilson (Fremantle, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Albanese government is delivering the action that Australians rightly expect when it comes to dangerous climate change. It was one of the biggest reasons for the election of the Albanese government and of this parliament in its entirety back in 2022, and responding to that justified expectation was literally the first work that this government got underway with in the second half of 2022. We straightaway increased Australia's commitment under the Paris climate agreement by more than 50 per cent. We had laboured along in this country for years with a pathetic reduction target of 26 to 28 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030. It wasn't informed by the science. The very first thing we did was increase that commitment by more than 50 per cent, with only five or six years to go. We legislated net zero by 2050. We set an ambitious target to achieve 82 per cent renewables by 2030, and we are on track. The member for Brisbane mentioned that we have reached 42 per cent renewables in Australia's grid. What he didn't mention, of course, is that we've only reached that by increasing renewable energy generation by 25 per cent in the first two and a bit years of this government.

In support of all of the measures that we took and that the Australian community rightly expects this government to do in tackling dangerous climate change—which is in the best interests of Australians and is an example of Australia at its best, as we work cooperatively with the global community and with our Pacific family—we have put in place all of the different measures that are required to get us to net zero by 2050 and to get us to that 43 per cent reduction target by 2030. We have introduced the Rewiring the Nation program, with $20 billion to make sure that our grid can accommodate all of that renewable and new storage. We have invested in the Capacity Investment Scheme, which will add 32 gigawatts of renewable energy and storage by 2030 to get to that 82 per cent target. We have a community battery program that's being rolled out around the country. We have the Solar Sunshot program, the Hydrogen Headstart program and the first ever National Electric Vehicle Strategy this country has ever had, making sure that our vehicles are cleaner and cheaper to run and that we reduce pollution in addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The first ever National Energy Performance Strategy was released only in April of this year, with $1.7 billion of supportive programs to help households, local governments and small and medium enterprises, with a special focus on housing improvements.

And, in making sure that the entire Australian economy, particularly large emitters, do their work to get us to our 2030 target and to net zero by 2050, of course we reformed the safeguard mechanism, which had operated utterly hopelessly under those opposite, who essentially set benchmarks that increased the headroom for all of those large emitters so that they were effectively under no obligation to reduce their emissions. We changed that. Also, the Minister for the Environment and Water moved quickly to reform the EPBC Act with an expanded and strengthened water trigger. That means that the 200 largest emitters among Australian companies need to be really serious about achieving the emissions reduction that we need—effectively five per cent year on year from those 200 large emitters. That is already beginning to have effect.

The Minister for Climate Change and Energy will deliver the third Annual Climate Change Statement tomorrow. That's yet another reform that we made in coming to government, to ensure that there is visibility, transparency and accountability for the Australian community so they can look at this parliament and this government and say, 'We have an expectation that a sensible, responsible, focused and reformist Australian Labor government will take on the biggest challenge that we have before us: responding to dangerous climate change and making sure that this country actually derives all of the very significant benefits that lie before us through the global energy transformation that is occurring, because of the comparative advantages that we have.' As the member for Brisbane said, we have the best wind and solar resources in the world—a continent-sized nation with parts of the renewable energy spectrum that we have yet to tap.

Under this government, for the first time, we have offshore wind zones, which the coalition never explored. That gives us an opportunity to spread the diurnal range in which renewable energy is supplied, building on the large-scale and household solar that's already delivered. Added to that is hydropower, new pumped hydro, concentrated solar, battery technology and green hydrogen—all of those things that we are very well placed to take advantage of, because of the size of the continent, because of the renewable energy resources, because we've got a skilled and educated workforce, because we have a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship right through our economy. That is the work that this government has done.

Already, in just a bit more than two years, the change that Australia voted for, the change that Australians want to see—particularly young Australians—is becoming real, including an increase in renewable energy generation of 25 per cent. We are on track to achieve our 43 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030. The minister for energy noted today that in the week before last we crossed the four-million-household mark, in terms of installed solar PV capacity.

We have become the highest penetration solar PV nation in the world. That started with the former Labor government. When we came to government in 2007, there were only 12,000 households that had solar PV—effectively one in a thousand—and now it is one in three. In my home state of Western Australia it is two in five. That is what started under the Rudd-Gillard government. That is what is continuing under the Albanese government, because we know climate change is real and we know that we need to be part of mitigating the impacts of climate change here for our own sake but also for the sake of our Pacific family and to be part of sensible, cooperative global action.

The environment minister has approved, in the term of this government, more than 65 renewable projects. We have the largest pipeline of investment in green hydrogen in the world. All of those things, which people should look at and take heart from, have been delivered in a little bit more than 2½ years. It is not 'mission accomplished', as the member for Brisbane says. We have never ever taken than approach. We've taken the approach that there is no time to waste, and we're going to continue to make positive change when it comes to climate change and the energy transition—every single week of this government, every month and every year. We've done that from the very beginning. We've continued that right up until the last month or so, and it will continue over the course of this summer and into next year, when, of course, Australians will have a choice. The choice is a very clear one: Do Australians want this country to be on its best path, to be on the path that suits our best interests and represents our best character? Do they want Australia to continue on the path of sensible, focused, sustained, collaborative, effective climate change action which we need to make sure that we don't suffer the worst effects of climate change? We need to make sure that we don't experience those not only in terms of our environment and our social and economic wellbeing but also to make sure that we don't miss out on all of the many opportunities that are being taken up around the world as the planet goes through an energy transition.

We know that there needs to be more renewables and storage. We're already delivering that, and we will continue to see that grow as time goes ahead. We know that, as part of the response to climate change, hydrocarbons need to decrease. We know that the days of fossil fuels are numbered as a result of the energy transformation that's occurring. But, while we do all of those things in a sensible, responsible, sustained and focused way here in Australia, we'll continue to be a responsible energy partner for countries in our region as they go through their transition in their own way. If you think about a country like Singapore, which is 700-square kilometres, probably three times larger than my electorate of Fremantle, with five or six million people, they are at five per cent renewables. They have a challenge to increase their proportion of renewable energy with a country of that land mass. They're making those efforts. They're adding new cables to have the benefit of renewable energy projects in other parts of South-East Asia. Of course, we have a proposal like that to support them as well.

There's one thing that people need to know, young people in particular. Australians made a clear choice in the middle of 2022. They said: 'We don't want this science-free climate-change-denialist madness to continue. We don't want to suffer the consequences of that. We don't want to miss out on the opportunities that come from a responsible approach to this issue.' They chose this parliament, and they chose this Albanese Labor government. From the very beginning, we have acted. Ever since, we have made massive and significant changes to ensure that we are on the right track when it comes to emissions reduction and that we're on the right track when it comes to renewable energy generation.

Andrew Wilkie (Clark, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Brisbane for raising this matter of public importance because, while the federal government seems unsure, the public is in no doubt that urgent action to address the climate crisis and to protect our environment is undoubtedly a matter of the greatest importance. Indeed, for Australians, it's increasingly clear that we're facing a climate and extinction crisis. In fact, all it takes to experience the climate crisis these days is to walk out the front door, which is to say that many of us now have already lived through climate change induced extreme weather events. For instance, there's been the millennium drought, the Dunalley fires in Tasmania and the Black Summer fires. Moreover, there's been the increasingly intense cyclones, floods and storms. Indeed, some 84 per cent of Australians say they've been directly affected by at least one climate fuelled disaster since 2019.

It's not just us personally facing the effects of climate change. Nature itself is being hammered even harder, with Australia in particular becoming a global hotspot for extinctions as the changing climate inflicts terrible harm both directly and indirectly. Frankly, it should be a source of great shame for the major parties that more mammal species have become extinct in Australia than on any other continent on earth. This harm is being compounded by our weak environmental laws which have allowed some 7.7 million hectares of bush and forest, an area roughly the size of Ireland, to be cleared in the last 25 years or so. To stop this decline and to reverse these trends we need governments to act with urgency. But the reality is that while the federal government has made some steps forward on environmental law reform, sadly they've moved far too slowly and kicked almost all of the hard work out into the long grass.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the appalling continued support and approval of new coal and gas projects, because both major parties are hooked on fossil fuels. It seems that nothing can dampen their enthusiasm for digging up and selling more, no matter what scientific evidence is presented to them. In fact, in 2023 Australia exported 1.15 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. This is more than ever before, making us one of the largest exporters of fossil fuels in the world. In fact, we're currently third behind Russia and the United States, and that, undeniably, is a shameful position to be in. That's not even mentioning our domestic emissions which, excluding the dodgy accounting trick of including land use changes, have barely budged in over a decade which means we still have some of the highest per capita emissions in the world.

What are we doing here? How could governments have let this happen? Well, they know that electoral donations reform was last week's topic. But does anyone genuinely think that government inaction doesn't have something to do with the fact that almost $2 million worth of donations by fossil fuel interests poured into the coffers of the Labor, Liberal and National parties just last year. Of course, it does have something to do with the government's dreadful policy position. Considering that last year was a non-election year, brace yourself for all the dirty money that's set to pour into the polluting parties over the next little while in the run-up to the election. It's best I repeat that stunning fact for the benefit of anyone who didn't quite catch it: last year, in financial year 2022-23, the Liberal, National and Labor parties accepted some $2 million from fossil fuel companies and interests. That's appalling, though hardly surprising because time and time again we've seen this government and its predecessors kowtow to big corporations and powerful vested interests. Well, I say it's way beyond time the government grew a backbone, stood up to the fossil fuel lobby and started making policy in the public interest, because we simply can't have our environment, climate and energy policies dictated by the fossil fuel companies.

Australians are crying out for urgency on the government's long-delayed reforms so Australia can stop bulldozing the bush, better fund environmental management and repair, stop propping up climate-wrecking fossil fuels and instead harness our rich renewable-energy resources to power a green economy. To keep ignoring all of this is for the Labor, Liberal and National parties to keep treating the community and the environment with contempt.

Alicia Payne (Canberra, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm really pleased to have the opportunity today to speak in this matter of public importance and highlight the Albanese Labor government's achievements in protecting our environment and combating climate change, because these are critically important issues. I've been so proud of the action we have taken on these things since coming to government. Our achievements demonstrate our commitment to leaving Australia and the world in a better state for future generations than when we came into government.

It's a great honour to follow, today, the Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, who has just been with the Minister for Climate Change and Energy at COP, representing Australia there. I want to commend our leadership team for the vision that they have delivered and the transformative reforms that we've seen in this parliament and the even more ambitious policies on the horizon.

Under this Labor government, Australia is undergoing an energy revolution. This year alone, 42 per cent of our power will come from renewable energy, and, by 2030, 82 per cent of our energy grid will be made of renewables. We had great news today: because of our actions, our legislated target of a 43 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030 is on track to be met. And these are not just numbers. They represent a cleaner, greener Australia than what we inherited two years ago when we came to government.

For the Greens and others, it's politically convenient to make out that we are not having these achievements as a government and to downplay what we have achieved. But we came to government after 10 years of complete inaction from the coalition. As the member for Brisbane said, we're not even sure if they actually believe in climate change or not. It suits them to make out that we're not doing enough, when we are delivering incredibly ambitious action on climate change and we are actually getting it done. It actually requires governments to do that. It's not about giving speeches. It's not about just what you say. You have to actually have a plan to deliver these things and you have to work it get it done. And that's what we have been doing since coming to government in 2022, and I am very proud of what we have so far achieved.

As the member for Canberra—a community that is deeply engaged on this issue and understands the importance of urgent and ambitious action on climate—I will always advocate for us to take the strongest action that we can, and I have done so. Last term we were in opposition, and it was just mind-blowing to be in here making a case for climate action, when the previous government seemed to be doing nothing in the face of this crisis. It's been a big change from that to being in government, being able to talk about the things that we are doing, and seeing Minister Bowen fighting for these things and actually going beyond the things that we first promised, delivering ambitious actions, in many ways, that are helping to set up Australia and the world for a better future.

Under this government, 65 renewable energy projects have been green-lit in just over two years. That is enough power to run seven million homes. And we have another 130 projects in the pipeline.

This government is not just talking about climate action. We are taking decisive steps to protect our environment. For the first time in Australia's history, under the Minister for the Environment and Water, this government has refused a coalmine project, prioritising the preservation of our environment over short-term profits. The government is acting to protect our environment and against climate change in every way.

This energy transformation isn't happening overnight, but it is happening a lot quicker because of the actions of our government. We're making up for a lost decade of inaction under the coalition and we've accomplished far more in our first term than the previous government did in three. We've legislated strong new climate laws that compel big polluters to reduce emissions by 200 million tonnes by 2030. That's the equivalent of removing two-thirds of the cars from Australian roads.

These are things that the Greens won't talk about. It's not convenient for them to acknowledge that we are really making gains in this space. We are actually delivering things because that is what Labor governments do. We are the party of the environment. We are the party that will always protect our natural environment and is taking the action we need on climate change.

Dai Le (Fowler, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, too, would like to thank the member for Brisbane for bringing this matter of public importance to the House. This year, thousands of homes in Sydney's west experienced blackouts, with 2,785 customers impacted by over 180 power outages recorded, as reported by Endeavour Energy. These outages are under investigation.

My community in Fowler and across Western Sydney will feel the heat this summer not just from the rising temperatures but also from the rising costs of staying cool. Many families will turn on the air conditioning or fans to cope, while others will simply go without. What is this government doing to ensure they aren't also feeling the heat of soaring energy costs?

The cost of living, with energy at its core, is the most pressing issue for Australians. Energy affects every household and business in this country. Our current, chaotic energy market demands urgent reform. Energy pricing today feels like a lottery. On Monday, the spot price is low; by Wednesday, it's sky high; and by Thursday, it's in the negatives. Retailers use this unpredictability to justify price hikes, creating instability that costs Australians dearly. How can families budget or businesses plan when the energy market operates in such chaos?

Since my election, I have repeatedly asked the government what it will do to bring down electricity prices and provide certainty for consumers. In August, I asked what fundamental changes it would make to the broken electricity market. Well, it seems the government listened and took action, with the news that an energy expert panel will be appointed to study the situation and make recommendations. That's all well and good, but what about now? How can this assist us right now, when the panel is asked to report back only in 12 months? This problem cannot wait another year longer. This government has had 30 months to act.

Australia is a world leader in solar adoption, with over four million systems installed since 2006, yet, while solar has surged, planning has not. Why hasn't the government acted sooner to plan for storage of excess solar energy generated in the middle of the day? Our energy distributors, regulators and policy makers have failed to create a grid that is fit for purpose. Why didn't we mandate that every large-scale solar farm include a battery? Instead, we have a system where solar system homeowners are penalised for exporting energy while consumers pay record-high bills due to poor planning.

Even without being an energy expert, I see simple, overlooked solutions. Why not introduce an ultra-low daytime tariff to encourage consumers to charge electric hot water systems and EVs during the midday solar glut? Why cling to outdated night-time tariffs, when solar overproduction peaks between 10 am and 3 pm? Such measures could help alleviate the risk of blackouts. Our outdated energy infrastructure is woefully inefficient. Upgrading it with smart technology and storage solutions is essential to reduce waste and make the renewable energy dispatchable. Such improvements would enhance reliability and provide consumers with a chance at lower power costs.

Transparency in the energy market must also improve. Energy providers must operate fairly, and regulations must protect consumers from price gouging and unfair practices. Vulnerable groups, like low-income households in Fowler, need safeguarding. Encouraging competition away from large generators and retailers can lower prices and improve services for all Australians.

While transitioning to renewables is vital, we cannot ignore the role of traditional energy sources like coal and gas during this transition. Disregarding their importance risks economic shocks and further price instability. A balanced approach that leverages all resources, while phasing out the most harmful practices, is essential to protect both the economy and the environment.

Communities like Fowler are paying the price for decades of poor planning and leadership. Australians want practical, affordable solutions, not empty slogans. We must engage with communities to ensure energy policies reflect their needs and provide clear benefits.

High energy costs hurt everyone. They slash disposable incomes, inflate living expenses and deepen economic hardships. Energy policy cannot exist in isolation. It affects every aspect of our lives and economy. The rising cost of energy demands immediate and multifaceted action. This government is not moving in the right direction on infrastructure for Fowler. This government is not moving in the right direction on health funding for Fowler. This government is not moving in the right direction for small and medium sized businesses in Fowler. They are certainly not moving in the right direction for energy costs for Fowler and dealing with our energy crisis.

Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to 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.

Max Chandler-Mather (Griffith, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The science and experts are clear. If we want to stop devastating and catastrophic climate change, we cannot open any new coal and gas projects. It is what the International Energy Agency says, it is what IPCC climate scientists say and it is what experts around the world say. It is devastating and genuinely difficult to understand how members in this place can get up and pretend like this government is taking climate change seriously when this government has approved in this term of government—and wait for this—28 new coal and gas projects.

Australia is the second-largest exporter of fossil fuels in the world behind only Russia and ahead of the United States. That alone should be deeply shameful for a country that will face devastating consequences as a result of climate inaction—devastating. We have already experienced them. In my hometown of Brisbane, in the space of just over a decade, we have faced two one-in-100-year floods. I remember going into people's devastated homes, their lives destroyed, and one of the things I thought about is that here in parliament we have two political parties—Labor and the Liberals—who have been utterly captured by the interests of coal and gas corporations. They wield enormous power over our political system.

It is not just the millions of dollars in donations that coal and gas corporations make to the two major parties. It is not just that Labor and Liberal resource ministers in the past have gone on to work for the coal, oil and gas industries—before and after their jobs, by the way. It is not just that this government time and time again sings the tune of corporations like Santos and Woodside. But even though Australia is a massive exporter of coal and gas, this country gets a fraction of that revenue in tax—a fraction. It is remarkable that corporations like Santos and Woodside sometimes pay less tax than a nurse. When you look around the world at countries like Norway that get about 60 per cent of taxation revenue from their oil industry and then you look at Australia and it is somewhere closer to nine per cent. Nurses pay a higher tax rate than coal and gas corporations in Australia. That alone should be deeply shameful when we are in a cost-of-living crisis.

But let's think about the consequences for a second, such as the devastating floods and heatwaves that disproportionately affect the elderly and vulnerable. In the future their lives will be lost as a result of climate-driven natural disasters, which are hardly natural because they are driven by financial interests in coal, oil and gas corporations that wield enormous power over our political system.

It is hard because we speak—

Sam Rae (Hawke, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's hard!

Max Chandler-Mather (Griffith, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We hear the mocking over there. We are honestly getting sick of this. He is a Labor MP, by the way, who was just mocking me and laughing about that. It demonstrates the fundamental disconnect between this political institution and ordinary people out in the world. Because when you think about the consequences of climate change, whether it is lives lost in coal or oil and gas-driven natural disasters, whether it is devastating heatwaves, whether it is sea level rises destroying Pacific communities, whether it is the vulnerable Australians who will be hit first by this climate disaster, that is not something to mock and laugh about. That's something to take seriously. You might find that you disagree with the Greens about a bunch of things, but then go and ask all the climate scientists who say we can't open new coal and gas projects. We would be willing to work with you and discuss a reasonable pathway to phase out existing coal and gas. But, at the very least, let's agree that we can't open more of them and then hand over more billions of dollars to coal, oil and gas corporations.

Listen to that passion! Where's that passion for the people who are having their lives destroyed by climate change? Where's the passion for the people who will be destroyed as a result of your party's subservience to fossil fuel corporations? (Time expired)

Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! This is a very timely reminder for everybody interjecting. I'd like to think that we might have a bit of respect in listening to the different points of view. We can do that. We can have a robust discussion without breaking standing orders.

Alison Byrnes (Cunningham, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Albanese Labor government is doing more than ever to protect our environment, reduce emissions and tackle climate change. We are protecting more of our natural world, fixing more of what's been damaged and working hard to care for the places that we love. When I ran for parliament nearly three years ago, I ran with three core beliefs: I care about people, I care about jobs and I care about the planet. I am so proud to belong to a government that shares these values and has worked day in and day out to move our country forward.

For nearly 10 years, we saw the detrimental effect of what successive coalition governments had done—or failed to do—to combat climate change. They took the country backwards. In the decade that they were in government, the energy industry announced that 24 of 28 coal-fired power stations would close within a decade. They had no plans for what would be replacing their electricity and no plans to help the huge workforces supporting these power stations as they transitioned.

When it comes to powering Australia, nothing will beat our sun and wind. Reliable renewables are the cheapest source of power, and we have them in abundance in Australia. Steel production has always been at the heart of the Illawarra's identity, but with a global shift towards net zero BlueScope are working tirelessly to reduce their carbon footprint and adapting their practices to help Australia achieve our target by 2050.

We still want to maintain the capability of producing good Australian steel in the Illawarra. We know producing steel and powering homes and businesses takes a lot of energy. Producing green steel using low-emissions technology will take even more energy. The Albanese Labor government has a plan that is supported by experts to deliver clean, cheap and reliable energy to all Australians. In just 2½ years we have already delivered a 25 per cent increase of renewables in the grid through 64 different renewable energy projects, which is enough to power more than three million homes. To reduce our emissions, the Albanese Labor government's safeguard mechanism is reducing climate pollution at Australia's largest industrial facilities and, by 2030, it will have worked to slash climate pollution by 200 million tonnes. That's the equivalent of taking two-thirds of the nation's cars off the road over the same period.

While the country continues to progress reliable renewable projects, the Illawarra is charging ahead and is on the cusp of becoming an industry leader in clean energy and manufacturing. With the declaration of the renewable energy zone, we have attracted over $43 billion in potential investments across 44 projects, including wind, solar, energy storage, hydrogen production and green steel manufacturing. The announcement of the REZ paved the way for the Minister for Climate Change and Energy to officially declare the Illawarra offshore wind zone on 15 June this year. The zone highlights our region's ideal conditions for harnessing wind power and the ability to provide the infrastructure and workforce needed for such a groundbreaking project. The Illawarra is a region of innovation in manufacturing, with the steelworks and local associated industries still providing secure, well-paying jobs for the Illawarra. Offshore wind projects could provide an additional 1,740 jobs during construction and 870 ongoing, secure, well-paying jobs in our local community.

We won't only be creating jobs; we will be giving our engineering and science graduates from the University of Wollongong the chance to find a job in their home town. The steelworks currently use 750,000 megawatt hours of grid supplied electricity across the steelworks each year. This equates to the usage of about 150,000 households. For context, in Wollongong we have approximately 130,000 households. To make green steel, BlueScope estimates that they will need 15 times the current amount of electricity that they use in traditional steelmaking. Not only does our offshore wind project support so many jobs but it also supports the jobs that already exist as part of the Illawarra's vital industrial base.

We remain committed to driving forward projects that will reduce emissions, create jobs and safeguard our environment. In the Illawarra, local industries have already embraced cleaner technologies and they are helping to position our region as a leader in the clean economy. We have achieved so much in the short amount of time that we have been in office, but there is still so much work to be done. Building the Australia that we envisage cannot happen overnight. This requires hard decisions, long-term planning, dedication and significant investment in the regions driving our economic future.

Elizabeth Watson-Brown (Ryan, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Brisbane for bringing this matter of public importance to the House, and it is a matter of deep public importance. There are three reasons why we need to open up new coal and gas: none, none and none—there are no reasons to open up new coal and gas. We already generate 40 per cent of our electricity from renewables. We have the technology. The support is also there. Seventy per cent of people in renewable energy zones back projects in their communities. Almost 90 per cent of gas produced in Australia isn't even used here. We send it overseas and we barely tax it. We've got enough coal and gas currently in production to last us until we scale renewable alternatives.

More and more of the jobs in these sectors are being automated right out of existence. Renewables are among the cheapest sources of energy, and things like storage technology are improving every year. So, no, there are no reasons to open new coal and gas, but there are very good reasons to stop. We've just seen a heatwave rip through half the country, the UK drowning under Storm Bert and Florida smashed by Hurricane Helene. The climate crisis is here right now, and, instead of putting out the fire, Labor pours petrol on it, approving 28 new coal and gas projects.

If we stay on this path, by 2035, Australia—home to just 0.3 per cent of the world's population—will have consumed nine per cent of the remaining global carbon budget. It's been interesting this afternoon listening to the assistant minister's laundry list of renewable projects. That is all cancelled out completely by the approval of new coal and gas.

The LNP are peddling an expensive nuclear fantasy. Nuclear power is no solution to the climate crisis. In fact, it's a distraction. It distracts us in critical decades and actually entrenches our reliance on coal and gas. In the absolute best-case timeline, we wouldn't have a single nuclear reactor built until after 2040. In the meantime, the demand for energy continues and grows. If we don't have the base-load renewables needed, guess what is filling that gap? Coal and gas. Here's what the LNP won't say: every nuclear plant locks us in to decades of emissions. That's not a climate solution. It's a trap.

Here in Australia, as previous speakers have mentioned, we have some of the best renewable energy resources in the world. We are ripe to be a clean energy superpower, creating jobs and cutting emissions, but the LNP, backed by millions of dollars from the fossil fuel industry, are trying to sell a nuclear myth and fantasy that simply does not stack up to scrutiny. Why? Because it keeps their mates in coal and gas in business. It's a revolving door between the old parties and the fossil fuel industry. The planet burns, and they actually cash in—state capture by our fossil fuel corporations.

How does politics work in Australia? According to the official register, there are three lobbyists for every one politician in Canberra. A staggering number of these lobbyists are former politicians, former ministerial staffers or former public servants. Every single resources minister in coalition and Labor governments since 2001 has gone on to work in the fossil fuel sector. Not to drill wells or drive trucks, mind you. They become head lobbyists, leveraging their connections to drive the interests of coal and gas multinationals. We see them in the corridors here every day.

So how does politics work in Australia? Over the last 10 years Labor and the LNP have received $26 million in donations from energy and resource companies. See the link? Both major parties sell subscriptions to business forums where big corporations can buy special access to ministers. Who are the members? Woodside Energy, Santos and the Minerals Council of Australia. Meanwhile ministers get chartered flights and gifts from big fossil fuel companies, and this is legal.

So how does politics work in Australia? How does it work? Coal and gas corporations get approval after approval, subsidy after subsidy and tax break after tax break. This is fundamentally about integrity in politics, but integrity doesn't go far enough. We have a structure that gives—this is a fact—big coal and gas corporations more influence than voters could ever dream of having, and that's got to change. (Time expired)

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

I have sat here and listened to the members of the Greens political party in particular talk about the actions of this Albanese government. You would think that they're living in a complete fantasy land where none of the achievements we have delivered on taking climate action have happened at all. They never mention the 65 renewable energy projects that we've approved. They never mention the renewable energy targets that we've put in place. They never mention any of that. As the member for Canberra said, it's all for politics—just like with housing and just like economic matters, they play politics. We'll see how they go with that at the next election.

Today I welcome the opportunity from the member for Brisbane to talk about this particular matter of public importance. He wants to debate what action the government is taking to tackle the climate crisis, what action we're taking to reduce our emissions and what action we're taking to protect our environment. I welcome that debate, because it gives us the opportunity to talk about the things that the Greens don't. It gives us the opportunity to talk about what we were elected to do.

I was elected, in Bennelong of all places, because people in Bennelong and across the nation wanted their new government to take climate change seriously, and it's because we're all living through it now. This crisis isn't distant or abstract. It is here. It's impacting our communities, it's impacting our economy and it's impacting our very way of life. From bushfires to floods, Australians know the reality of climate change all too well. So, yes, people in Bennelong care deeply about the environment and they care deeply about climate action. They want their children to grow up in a world where our unique ecosystems are protected, where clean energy powers our homes and where we seize the opportunities of an emissions-free economy. Under this government we're delivering just that. From legislating emissions reductions targets to backing in renewable energy, we have hit the ground running. But make no mistake, there is still so much more to do. Let me be clear to this House and to people in Bennelong, I will not stop pushing this government for stronger climate action. We must continue to take action and we should go further, because the stakes couldn't be higher.

The science is clear: without action, global warming will exceed thresholds, leading to more frequent and severe disasters. The cost of inaction won't just be measured in emissions but in lost dollars, lost opportunities and a diminished future for our children. We know that it certainly won't be a Liberal government that will take this threat seriously.

Bob Katter (Kennedy, Katter's Australian Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madame Speaker, can I ask the member about the sacked 50,000 coal jobs?

Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No. The member for Kennedy needs to be silent now.

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

It will only be a Labor government that will continue to take action. Let's look at our record in the last 2½ years, noting that the Liberals wasted nearly a decade preceding it. We legislated Australia's first emissions reduction target: 43 per cent emissions reduction by 2030 and net zero by 2050. These targets are giving Australians certainty, driving investments and delivering tangible progress. Just this week we see media reports that we're on track to meet these targets, which shows that our policies are working.

Because of our policies, Australia is now a top-10 worldwide destination for renewables investment, and it's showing. In 2½ years, renewable energy in our national grid has increased by 25 per cent, with 13 gigawatts of capacity added. The latest Clean Energy Regulator report shows renewable energy generation will average 42 per cent this year, and it doesn't end there. We've approved over 65 renewable energy projects. That's more than 10 times the number of fossil fuel approvals. These projects will power over seven million Australian homes, and they include some of the largest renewable energy projects in the world: projects in the Northern Territory, wind farms in Queensland mining regions, and one of the world's largest battery systems in Victoria. Each of these projects brings us to our other target, 82 per cent renewable energy by 2030, which will help us get cleaner, cheaper and more reliable energy.

By investing in renewables, cutting emissions and building energy systems, we're not only protecting our environment but securing our prosperity for decades to come. But, to stay on that path, we need to remain steadfast. If we want ongoing progress on renewable energy and climate action, Australia cannot risk a Liberal government in 2025 and beyond. Their record is clear. They'll repeal what we've done. They'll tear down the progress. They'll dismantle everything, just as they've done in the past. There's only one choice come election day.

Kate Chaney (Curtin, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Turning an economy around is hard. Everyone who benefits from the way it is now fights the change. I know there are serious headwinds when it comes to shifting away from coal and gas to the energy sources and industries of the future. With coal, the writing is on the wall. It's on the way out. With gas, it's more complicated. Unfortunately, we still need some of it during transition.

But there are four facts that it's hard to argue with. Firstly, climate change is happening fast. Burning fossil fuels increases global temperatures. We're seeing it now, and most forecasts are being exceeded. Secondly, the world is trying to get off the stuff that we're selling. Most countries have committed to a net zero timeline at some stage. The best minds in the world are working out how to get off fossil fuels. We can argue about when exactly the tipping point is, but energy economics and public attitudes are changing, and at some stage we will end up with stranded fossil fuel assets. Thirdly, it's likely there will be some gas in the energy mix until 2050, but as little as possible. Gas is currently a useful peaking fuel until something better comes along. There are other solutions, like biogas and various storage methods. This shouldn't be a licence to approve 50-year gas project expansions or new exploration sites that won't be developed for 10 years. And, fourthly, Australia—WA specifically—has a lot to gain if we're bold about this transition. The scale of both the risk and the opportunity is hard to contemplate. In WA, we built a pipeline to Kalgoorlie that unleashed the gold rush in 1903, and the vast North West Shelf infrastructure got the go-ahead in the 1960s. We need to be thinking on that scale now about what's next. In a decarbonising world, WA has many new-energy advantages: sun, wind, land and critical minerals. We're a trusted ally. We have stable politics, a skilled workforce and a track record in big projects.

Given these four facts, how do we set up now for prosperity and employment for generations to come? Instead of coal and gas, I want to talk about a huge opportunity for Australia and WA: green metals. Processing metals is very energy and carbon intensive. The production of steel alone generates seven to nine per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and up to 10 or 11 per cent of CO2. Half the world's iron ore is from Australia. Staggeringly, using zero-emissions energy to process our ore into iron would cut three per cent of overall carbon emissions. If we can do this, we can punch above our weight and make ourselves invaluable to the rest of the world. Our trading partners are looking to decarbonise metal production. The most obvious way to do this is to buy iron from us that's been processed using zero-emissions energy.

This is a huge opportunity for Australia, adding value to our raw materials exports, which adds economic complexity. Unlike creating entire battery supply chains, this is much simpler and more achievable. We're well positioned to become the world's green forge, but it requires some boldness. We need investments to bridge the green premium for first movers, such as the production incentives which are being debated in the House today, and capital investment in transformational infrastructure, technology and R&D. We need a rapid increase in research and development for green metals, specifically targeting Australian ore and the magnetite found in WA. Numerous companies are working on this, and the government should provide support to accelerate it.

We need to revitalise and focus our partnerships with our major trading partners on what we can offer in the future, not locking in our old economy. If our trading partners find other lower emissions ways of producing steel, they will take them. We need to make Australia essential in a decarbonising world. We need efficient approval processes to achieve the necessary timelines for projects without compromising environmental outcomes. Current approval timeframes are shifting investment to other countries.

While we do have comparative advantages, the race is on and we are seeing so many other countries investing heavily to position themselves for the new economy. We need to act decisively. We'll be wasting public money if we don't firmly establish a globally competitive position. This will also send a clear signal to the world that, instead of doubling down on the coal projects of the past or the gas projects with a limited shelf life, we're ambitiously committing to a liveable future and securing our place in it.

Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The time for this discussion has concluded.