Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Hansard source

As I acknowledged before, the government recognise there are areas of concern and we are taking a proactive approach in trying to work with the energy industry, renewable energy generators and remote communities in discussing the specifics of these issues.

The changes to the renewable energy act that were passed by the parliament in June resulted in major improvements for the renewable energy industry, much of which benefit remote and regional communities. The first was placing the overall scheme on a sustainable basis, something that some in this place still fail to understand. The second change protected jobs, particularly jobs in regional and remote communities, by providing 100 per cent exemptions for many emissions-intensive trade-exposed industries. Many of those jobs are in remote and regional communities and this is of direct benefit to those communities. In relation to the specific issue, we continue to look at all appropriate issues to ensure the fair treatment of all remote communities as well.