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

I thank Senator Bernardi for the question, and, Senator, I am happy to take it on notice in terms of any particulars that can be provided. As you would be well aware, of course, the coalition government acted to reduce the level of the renewable energy target around 18 months ago—a change that brought down the rate of energy that was required to be supplied by renewable sources and, in doing so, reduced some of the burden across the national market. Of course, we have only ever supported carefully targeted and calibrated targets, whereas, as you are well aware, the government in South Australia has sought to champion a 50 per cent renewable energy target, in excess of double the federal renewable energy target and far more than anything that the coalition government has ever advocated for.

They have had a particular impact as they have encouraged investment, changed planning laws and undertaken activities to ensure that as much investment as possible was put into South Australia in those areas of renewable energy, which, as we now know, has created instability in the grid, as a result of issues in relation to the frequency and inertia of energy. They are serious issues that now have to be addressed, partly through energy market reforms and partly through looking at the storage capabilities that can address that. We have sent very strong, clear warnings to the states and territories that such inconsistent approaches from the states and territories do jeopardise their local energy markets. We urge them not to pursue those types of standalone policies that could undermine the efficiency of the system.