Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Ciccone for his question and for his ongoing support for Australian jobs. All of us on this side are for Australian jobs. The passage of the government's Future Made in Australia (Production Tax Credits and Other Measures) Bill 2024 last night marks a major step forward in building Australia's economic future, strengthening our industries and securing more well-paid jobs. Establishing tax incentives will mean that, instead of shipping resources offshore to be processed by other countries, we will add value here at home.

In addition to creating tens of thousands of blue-collar jobs, we will build Australia's sovereign capability in industries crucial to our future and strengthen our regional economies, whether it's in Whyalla and the Upper Spencer Gulf in South Australia, in Central Queensland, in the Pilbara, in Victoria, in New South Wales or in Northern Tasmania. Labor's bill incentivises green hydrogen production to support industries transition to cleaner energy and make Australia a renewable energy superpower. After a wasted decade from those opposite, who have never stood up for Aussie jobs, we are taking action to build Australia's industrial future. All of us will remember those opposite cheering the decline of Australian manufacturing under Prime Ministers Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison. Of course they haven't learnt; they've been true to form in opposing the bill.

Senator Cash, you quoted CME yesterday. Let's see what CME had to say about our bill:

Offering production tax incentives for hydrogen production and critical mineral processing sends a clear message to investors that Australia is serious about seizing the opportunities presented by the global energy transition.