Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Stewart—another cracker of a question. We know that the world's climate emergency is regional Australia's jobs opportunity. Jobs and Skills Australia has found Australia will need 32,000 more electricians between now and 2030, and 85,000 more to 2050. In the 38 critical clean energy occupations we need 240,000 jobs by 2030, and the renewable energy rollout is already creating jobs in regional Australia. For example, in my home state of Queensland, the town of Gladstone is cementing its spot as a world leader when it comes to creating new, clean-economy manufacturing jobs in hydrogen and renewable energy.

But renewables are also vital to keeping existing jobs in towns like Gladstone. Earlier this year, global resources giant Rio Tinto signed Australia's largest renewable power purchase agreement to supply its Gladstone operations in Queensland. Its CEO said, 'We now have a pathway to provide the competitive firmed power our Gladstone plants need.' Renewables are the key to keeping our regions strong. (Time expired)