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

I had this from Senator Di Natale or the Greens the other day. I invite them to actually look closely at the AEMO report and what it says about the reliability of the energy market, what it says about the one-gigawatt shortage in terms of base-load dispatchable energy we have at present and what it says about the further one-gigawatt shortage of reliable base-load dispatchable energy that would occur by 2022 if Liddell closes then. That is the reality that we are dealing with. Senator Di Natale can come in here and try to claim that the solution to that is to somehow further invest in intermittent energy, but we know the solution is to ensure you have greater reliability of base-load dispatchable energy. Senator Di Natale still doesn't seem to have comprehended the differences between intermittent energy and dispatchable base-load energy. We understand it. We are seeking to get the balance in the energy market that can improve affordability and reliability for all Australians.