Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Hansard source

Developing a business case for a project of this kind is the responsibility of proponents. The government is not here to assert that we have the answers to the questions that would ordinarily be addressed in such a business case. The risks, cost, technology solutions necessary to implement a project of this kind are all a matter for proponents. From an Australian government perspective, we seek to ensure that, if this is a technology solution that people seek to implement, there is a regulatory framework around it. I think a fair assessment of the government's broad climate agenda would recognise that this is one such technology that we are contemplating. The government is providing substantial financial and policy support for other technologies. As a subject of broad discussion often in this chamber and estimates, our budget indicates something in the order of a $40 billion commitment to the transition towards a renewable energy super power. These investments are across a wide range of technology possibilities. I'd suggest that you point constituents who are talking with you about these questions to those broad aspects of government policy.