Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Hansard source

The government will not be supporting this proposal from Senator Pocock today. I note that the Senate considered basically the same question yesterday in a motion from Senator Hanson-Young. As Senator Pocock would know, the Senate opposed the establishment of an inquiry into this matter yesterday. Bringing the same question into the Senate not even 24 hours later is disappointing. It's an attempt by Senator Pocock to play politics on this issue and actually just delays the consideration of important legislation that is before the Senate this afternoon.

Prior to the election last year, we made a commitment that an Albanese Labor government would invest $1.5 billion into the Middle Arm precinct and an additional $440 million into regional logistics hubs along key transport links that connect to Darwin at Katherine, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek. Our commitment to this investment was clear, and we intend to deliver it.

I have twice this year visited Alice Springs and Darwin and I know firsthand how excited those communities are about the potential jobs that can be created through these investments. They understand that, for the Territory to become a thriving and consistent economic success story, you need to develop new industry. They don't want to be reliant on government funding, as they are now. They actually want the Northern Territory to become an attractive place for people to come live, stay, work and build long-term careers for themselves and their children. These investments are about creating economic opportunity and diversifying the economy, and that will be felt throughout the Northern Territory—not only in Darwin, where the Middle Arm precinct is, but also throughout the regional communities. For me, that is the exciting part, because there are really exciting opportunities in that part of the world. I was in Tennant Creek a couple of months ago and I met with people there who are excited about the potential of renewable energy and what it can provide and also about the support that can be made through Middle Arm as well.

So it is very clear to me that this investment will be one that creates good economic opportunity for the Northern Territory. It creates jobs of the future for the Northern Territory and it's part of an Albanese government's vision for the Northern Territory. We know that it can play a significant role in the net zero economy of the future. That's what this Middle Arm project is all about. That's what it will deliver for the Northern Territory. That's why we are proud to be a government that is supporting it.

It's also important, though, that we set the right parameters for those investing in infrastructure. That will support businesses and give all potential users in the market the opportunity to grow and thrive. The proposed projects linked to Middle Arm include the development of a hydrogen facility using solar energy to produce green hydrogen and critical minerals. Processing that will support the manufacture and export of lithium batteries. This investment will pave the way for Middle Arm to be a globally competitive and sustainable precinct and provide significant economic benefits and sustainable jobs. These projects are estimated to create 20,000 jobs in the Northern Territory—jobs of the future, in long-term, sustainable industries, and jobs that people can rely on to build a long-term future for themselves and their families.

As I mentioned before, this investment will also help drive Australia's future net zero economy by supporting industries to export clean energy that is critical to meeting our net zero commitments—not just green hydrogen but also the manufacture and export of lithium batteries that are critical to global energy transition and decarbonisation.

The last time I was in Darwin, a couple of weeks ago, I went and spoke at the Northern Australia conference. There was a significant focus at that conference in Darwin on the opportunity that renewable energy will provide for northern Australia and, in particular, the Northern Territory. It is clear to me that the direction of the federal government, our aims to meet net zero in this country and the work that we are doing will work so well with the opportunities that are available for us in northern Australia. So it is a good investment that the government is making. It is one that we are absolutely determined to deliver on. We are proud to partner with the Northern Territory government because we know that, for all of the country to benefit, we need jobs in the far north as well. That is what the Albanese government is so passionate about. We want these jobs spread around the country, creating new economic opportunity and providing the jobs of the future. The Northern Territory need those jobs, as do all other states and territories around the country, and we are proud to be a government that is supporting them.