Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Wong, the Minister for Climate Change and Water. Can the minister inform the Senate on developments in clean energy in Australia and what opportunities there are for jobs and economic growth in tackling climate change?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Lundy for the question and for her interest particularly in the employment benefits of tackling climate change. There have been some positive developments in building a clean energy future for Australia today. Today, the Prime Minister, along with Premier Rees and I, launched the Capital Wind Farm in Bungendore, a wind farm by Infigen Energy that will boost the nation’s wind power capacity by more than 10 per cent. The wind farm comprises 67 wind turbines capable of supplying electricity to around 60,000 homes and is almost five times the size of any other wind farm in New South Wales. It is a project that provided employment opportunities for over 120 people during the construction phase and that will provide ongoing employment in the local community.

Renewable energy is a critical component of the Rudd government’s commitment to take concrete and practical steps to tackle the threat of climate change. As the government’s renewable energy target continues to progress, we know that, by 2020, 20 per cent of Australia’s electricity will come from renewable sources. That means that in 10 years time the amount of electricity coming from sources like wind, wave, solar and geothermal energy will be about equal to Australia’s current household electricity use.

We also know that we need a price on carbon that sends the signal that we need to drive investment in further clean energy investment. That is why we need the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. There are around 50 wind farms currently in operation around the nation and that will only expand under this government’s policies. That is something of which those on this side of the chamber are proud. (Time expired)

Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. What further opportunities are available to Australia by tackling climate change?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

According to the Climate Institute, there is already around $31 billion worth of clean energy products either underway or planned in response to the government’s policies to promote renewable energy and to reduce emissions. These are projects estimated to create around 26,000 new jobs.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I hope those National Party senators who are interjecting again are listening—

Ron Boswell (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Boswell interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Boswell.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

because many of these jobs will be in regional Australia. We also have the opportunity to enable Australian business to make money by investments overseas. Those opposite might not like to hear it, but this is where the rest of the world is going. We know that China alone will be investing hundreds of billions of dollars in clean energy over the next decade. The investment around the world in low carbon growth now and in the years ahead presents enormous opportunities to Australian businesses—if those opposite can get out of the way. (Time expired)

Ron Boswell (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Boswell interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Boswell, there is a time after question time for debating if you wish to participate.

Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Given these opportunities and the International Energy Agency warning that each year of delay in before moving to a more sustainable emissions path will add around $500 billion to the global investment cost of delivering the required energy revolution, can the minister inform the Senate of global action on climate change?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This government will continue to push hard for the most ambitious outcome possible from Copenhagen. As we have said, that needs to be an agreement for action. We welcome the comments overnight of President Obama that any deal at Copenhagen must have immediate operational effect. I am interested to know whether those on the other side, who always reference the United States in this debate, will now come in behind President Obama’s own call to action at Copenhagen. They will not, because what we know is that there are some people in the Liberal Party and the National Party—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, resume your seat. The time for debate is post question time. There should be no interjections across the chamber.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What has been on display over many months now is that there are some on that side of the chamber who will do anything and say anything to avoid taking action on climate change. That is the reality. They will do and say anything to avoid taking action on climate change. We know that from their history. We know that from what they are doing and saying now. (Time expired)