Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Before moving general business notice of motion 186, I wish to inform the chamber that Senator Bilyk will also sponsor the motion. I, and also on behalf of Senator Bilyk, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) the Australian Labor Party (Labor) is the only party of government that is committed to real action on climate change,

  (ii) investing in renewable energy is the only way to ensure a responsible energy mix is achieved in Australia, and

  (iii) strong climate action is needed, to protect the prosperity of future generations of Australians and to meet our international obligations under the Paris climate change accords;

(b) acknowledges that any responsible government must modernise our economy and adapt to inevitable climate impacts;

(c) recognises that:

  (i) Labor's approach to climate change policy will continue to be guided by the best science available, and be underpinned by Labor values of equity and fairness, and

  (ii) Labor's approach will focus on the development of policies that will not only cut pollution, but ensure we maximise the jobs and economic opportunities of modernising our economy;

(d) understands that every Australian deserves a government that looks to the future and makes the necessary policy reforms and investments to secure that future;

(e) notes that projects, such as the proposed hydrogen production facility at Bell Bay, should have bipartisan support;

(f) further notes that Tasmania is a renewable energy leader but that Australia cannot get left behind by other countries, such as Japan and South Korea;

(g) understands that Tasmania Hydrogen can provide one-quarter of Northern Tasmania's export growth over the next 10 years;

(h) recognises that, once complete, the proposed facility would use renewable energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen through a process called electrolysis, with the product then able to be sold as liquid hydrogen, or combined with nitrogen to create ammonia; and

(i) notes that the regional development ramifications for a project like this should be recognised, including an estimated 500 to 1000 jobs which could be created, and that the flow-on effect to other businesses and service providers would be ongoing.