Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Hansard source

I think it is quite amusing that Senator Bob Brown should accuse me of making political statements as part of this debate because if there is anyone adept at making political statements as part of a debate it is Senator Brown. He is probably the most political person in this place, although he continually tries to take the moral high ground. But all credit to him—he is one of those adept political operators who are very good at making political statements.

I disagree with Senator Brown in respect of Gunns. Gunns is a good company. It just happens to do something that Senator Brown does not like. So, rather than make the argument, he will demonise the company, which is quite often the approach that the Greens take. Senator Milne has already had a crack at another important company for the north of Tasmania, Comalco, and the way that they operate with respect to their energy use. If a company can make energy savings and then put those energy savings into growth, what is wrong with that? What is wrong with a company making energy savings and putting those energy savings into growth? That again takes pressure off the expansion of energy use. What is the problem with that? Senator Milne makes these arguments but I just cannot see the problem with a company legitimately making energy savings and then putting those energy savings into growth.

To turn to the points that Senator Allison made, in respect of where the process is at this point in time and what evidence we have that these energy savings are being put into place, we are still at the stage of registration of industry. That process closes this month. Obviously some businesses are further advanced than others. There is a five-year assessment process that goes through with this, obviously with reporting, and that provides a level of public scrutiny—and I think that is quite reasonable. We want to work with these businesses. We do not see at this point in time that it is necessary to enforce, by regulation or legislation, compliance. We think that industry will be willing to work with us. The work that has been done at this point in time clearly demonstrates that, and industry is genuinely interested in looking at energy savings, as I have said. Energy is a significant cost to industry and any cost savings that can be made are valuable to industry. Whether those energy savings are put into reduction of costs throughout the business or into growth of the business I do not think makes much difference. It is important that those principles apply, and that is why we are taking the approach that we are.