Hollie Hughes (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Hansard source

Minister, stakeholders from industry in one of Australia's largest trade unions, the AWU, have called on the government to allow the NRF to invest in gas projects—namely, carbon capture utilisation and storage, or CCUS. The union submission to the National Reconstruction Fund consultation—which I'll quote, as it has come from your union mates—further commits:

These technology needs should be directly reflected in funding decisions under the NRF.

As one example, the effective funding available for carbon capture and storage was cut by the 2022-23 Federal Budget update in October 2022. While the AWU recognises the need to target CCS funding to industries that are in most need, it is important to acknowledge that some industries do not have the option of electrification. For example, some industries use fossil fuel energy for process heat, or their emissions are a direct result of their process, such as in the case of cement production.

Minister, does the Albanese government believe that there should be investment of CCUS technologies in Australia? Yes or no?