Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Minister Wong. Minister, the government's own community engagement review of renewable energy projects surveyed 250 landowners and community members who live in close proximity to renewable energy infrastructure or transmission projects. The results of that survey are a shocking wake-up call: 92 per cent of respondents are dissatisfied with the engagement of project developers, and 85 per cent said their concerns were not addressed in a timely manner. Farmers like Ben Duxson, who's here in the gallery today from central Victoria, have travelled to Canberra to express their concerns about the farm-destroying projects like VNI West being promoted by this government. Minister, why has the government not listened to people like Ben and adjusted its plans to install 22,000 solar panels a day and a wind turbine every 18 hours in response to the immense opposition to these projects in rural and regional Australia?

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

I acknowledge those who attended the rally and those who are here today in the gallery. But I would say to you, Senator Canavan, that you and your party spent nearly a decade refusing to ensure that this country had the infrastructure which was required to transition to renewable energy—to clean energy. You did. You, Mr Joyce and others had 10 years to fix this up, and all that happened because of your opposition is that more generating capacity exited the system. It's quite a remarkable achievement. At a time when demand was increasing, you actually presided over less supply. I know that is hard.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order on relevance: my question went to the concerns of farmers. The minister spent almost half the answer speaking about the previous government, not those concerns that were revealed in her own government's report.

An incident having occurred in the gallery—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order in the gallery! It's not appropriate to make any comment, including clapping. Minister, I'll draw you to the question.

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

With respect, I do think it's relevant that, in fact, the energy system in Australia was reducing in terms of the capacity which was required because there was insufficient investment in generation. That is a real fact, and it's an economic fact. Having said that, I understand that Minister Bowen stood up on Friday in regional New South Wales and released the final report of the Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner, Mr Dyer, on the Community Engagement Review. Commissioner Dyer and his team have undertaken fine work. They've engaged with communities from across Australia about their experiences of energy development. This review will help ensure local landholders and regional communities are heard and receive real benefits from the renewable energy transformation. We know that, for far too long—

An incident having occurred in the gallery—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I'll remind the people in the gallery that, if you interject, you'll be removed.

Order, Senator Colbeck! You understand the procedures in this chamber. It is my job to maintain order. That includes you. Don't talk back. You're not in a debate with me. Minster, please continue.

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

It is the case that community engagement around infrastructure hasn't been up to scratch and we do need to make the reforms necessary to improve community engagement. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Canavan, a first supplementary?

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, Mr Glen Kelly is also here in the gallery. He operates a fifth-generation family farm just outside of Rockhampton. He has travelled here with thousands of others to attend the rally this morning. Glen faces the destruction of his local environment due to the construction of 50 massive wind turbines that are three times the height of the Parliament House flag and the destruction of koala and sugar glider habitats. Why isn't the government listening to people like Glen about the impacts of these industrial projects in rural communities?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Whish-Wilson, order!

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

What I would say to Mr Kelly—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Davey!

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order! Senator Davey, I should not have to call you twice, nor you, Senator McKim. I asked for order across the chamber. I'm sorry, Senator McKim—I meant Senator Whish-Wilson. Order across the chamber!

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

What I would say to Mr Kelly and his friends and colleagues—and what I would say to you, Senator Canavan—is: I remind you that the system under which these complaints are being made is the system that was in place under your government. As I understand it, the reason the minister has commissioned a report from Commissioner Dyer is in order to improve it. Again, the system under which these complaints are being made was a coalition government system. We are now seeking, through the report, that—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Particularly on my left. Minister, please continue.

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

I'll repeat myself. This system was the system in place under the previous government. That is the system under which these complaints are being made, and no amount of yelling is going to distract from that. What are trying to do is improve it, because we accept—

Honourable senators interjecting—

That is the intention of Commissioner Dyer's review. It's to try and improve it. (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Canavan, a second supplementary?

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Madam Acting President. Well, Minister—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator, I'm not the 'acting president'.

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Sorry, Madam President. Minister, we didn't have a ridiculous 82 per cent renewable energy target, but you have. We didn't have that. Frank Future is the owner of Imagine Cruises at Port Stephens in New South Wales. He left Port Stephens at 3 am to make sure he could get here today. He is concerned that his whale watching and dolphin cruise business will be decimated by the proposed offshore wind farm, which will harm wildlife and destroy his important tourism economy. Why is this government so intent on destroying our environment in pursuit of its ridiculous 82 per cent renewable energy target?

An incident having occurred in the gallery—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Before I call the minister, I remind those in the gallery that, if you interject again, you will be removed. I also remind those in the chamber that—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order!

Order! Senator Canavan, you've asked a serious question. I presume you want an answer. I also ask senators not to interject because Senator Canavan has the right to ask his question in silence.

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

I think Senator Canavan indicated yet again what is actually driving this from his perspective and what led to those opposite in government never doing anything about this: you are opposed to renewables. It's very clear.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Canavan, you've asked your question.

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

That's fine. At least you're upfront about it. Unfortunately Mr Morrison and Mr Dutton took a different view in not being upfront about it. I will make a second point. Let me read this quote.

Honourable senators interjecting—

Can I read this quote? Please, this is a very important quote—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

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

A particular person said this, and I'll tell you who it was at the end: 'The habitat for renewables should be on rooftops and wind towers. It should be offshore.'

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

Who said that?

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

Mr Littleproud said that. So, when they come to your rallies and tell you how much of a friend they are, perhaps we should recognise that their own Nationals leader has argued that these projects should be offshore. President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.