Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 88 standing in my name for today, relating to clean energy jobs.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) the Clean Energy Regulator's The Renewable Energy Target 2018 Administrative ReportThe acceleration in renewables investment, highlights the record investment in large scale, commercial and industrial and household renewables over the last year,

  (ii) the Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that jobs in renewable energy in Queensland grew by 1,550 in 2017-2018, an increase of 44 percent on the previous year,

  (iii) the Green Energy Markets 2019 update report, states that 2,012 full time equivalent Queenslanders were employed in the installation and sale of rooftop solar PV in June 2019,

  (iv) the recently announced shortlist for the Queensland Government's Renewables 400 tender includes ten renewable energy generation and storage developments projected to collectively deliver 3,000 jobs in central and far north Queensland, including 350 direct jobs created by the Clarke Creek Wind and Solar Farm, west of Rockhampton, and

  (v) the Adani Carmichael mine, if it proceeds, is expected to create between 800 and 1,500 jobs in the construction phase, with 100 ongoing jobs; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to:

  (i) deliver real jobs that last, by backing the job-creating, climate-fixing clean energy industry, and

  (ii) fund industry development, training and other support to ensure that regional workers and communities, including coal workers, have secure long-term futures.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The coal industry is providing real jobs in communities across rural and regional areas of Queensland and New South Wales. Coal was one of Australia's largest total export earners in 2018, valued at $67 billion. The coal industry employed more than 53,000 Australians in 2017-18, and pays more than $5 billion annually in royalties. Coal is enabling new investment in roads, hospitals and schools, providing jobs and opportunities for current and future generations. We don't believe coalminers need retraining. Instead they should be rewarded and recognised for the hard work they do for our nation.

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the last 170 years we have seen a phenomenal improvement in living standards right around the world, particularly in the developed world. That has been due to one thing—that is, the relentless decrease in energy prices in real terms. In the last 15 years in Australia we have seen the reversal of that. In Spain and England we have seen that, for every so-called renewable energy job, 2.2 to 3.7 productive jobs have been lost from the real economy due to energy prices. This is ridiculous. This is antihuman. It is against civilisation. I make a challenge that there has never been any empirical evidence proving that human carbon dioxide causes climate variability. I would be very pleased to receive any specific empirical evidence of human carbon dioxide causing that. I would like the paper, the title, the specific page number and the data. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that general business notice of motion No. 88, in the name of Senator Waters, be agreed to.