Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Abetz, the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources. Is the minister aware that the Prime Ministerial Task Group on Emissions Trading recommends abolishing the Victorian Renewable Energy Target scheme, which is aimed at generating 10 per cent of the state’s power from renewable sources by 2016? Does the government support this recommendation? Isn’t the solar power plant proposed for Mildura—in part funded by the government—relying on the VRET to be viable? Haven’t there been 10 projects announced under the scheme already with a total capacity of over 1,000 megawatts and generating hundreds of construction and ongoing regional jobs? Wouldn’t the abolition of the VRET put a stop to all of these projects?