Michelle Landry (Capricornia, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Water. I refer to the minister's last answer. Can she confirm if she approved more than six to 12 coal projects?

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! The member has asked her question. We'll do this right. The member is entitled to ask any question she wants. She's going to be given that courtesy, and she'll ask the question again.

Michelle Landry (Capricornia, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I refer to minister's last answer, where she said that she had approved fewer than 12 coal mines. Can the minister confirm what the number was between six and 12?

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

I thank the member for her question. The number of coal mines or extensions approved is 10. Four have been cancelled. Gas projects: there have been three extraction projects approved. Renewables: more than 80 have been approved, and there are about another 130 in the system, which is a real indication of the way our economy is changing.

I understand why the Liberals and Nationals are sensitive about this. They were warned when they were in government that there were 24 coal-fired power stations facing closure, and they did absolutely nothing to prepare for those closures. What we have done is see this massive rollout of renewable energy, because that's what the market is investing in. Those opposite used to believe in market policies, particularly driving our energy sector. They had 22 energy policies; they didn't land a single one. In contrast, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy has seen at 15 gigawatts of renewable energy already added to our energy grid. That's more than the Leader of the Opposition's nuclear power plants could hope to achieve in 25 years time if he spends $600 billion of taxpayers' money, if the state and territory governments agree to allow him to change their laws and if he can find four times the amount of water that the coal-fired power stations need to generate electricity. I understand why they're sensitive about it.

We are on track to see renewable energy reach 82 per cent of our grid by 2030, and I'm really proud to be part of a government that is doing that. This is one of the biggest transformations in Australian history, and it's on track. It's on track because we've got a prime minister who has shown leadership and an energy minister who has delivered.