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

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Wong. The Australian Energy Market Operator's 2023 Inputs, assumptions and scenarios report shows that your government's energy transition plan will run new massive transmission lines through prime agricultural land and National Parks, with costly unreliable wind and solar projects planned for an area covering up to a third of Queensland. Why has your government failed to properly inform and consult with the affected communities and landowners about the impact and risk to their loss of livelihoods and land rights?

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

I thank Senator Hanson for the question. First, it is true that there is a very, very big change in Australia's energy system that is required, not just to deal with the transition to 2050, but to ensure that Australians have access to the cheapest form of new energy, which is renewables. It is true that our transmission system is very much predicated on what we have had for the last 50 years, which is large coal-fired power stations closer to urban areas, or able to service large urban areas, with the transmission system we have. So there is a big change.

In relation to consultation, I think I've been asked about this before and I'll see if while I'm on my feet someone can find some additional information for you. I do understand—

And I'm very upfront about this, Senator Cash. What I would say is it is important that social licence for this change continues to be sought. This change does require engagement, and I respect the fact that there are communities and landowners who are supportive and there are landowners and communities who are not. There is also the importance of engaging with First Nations leaders as well. So I would say to you that consultation is happening. I accept that this requires ongoing discussion— (Time expired)

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

Senator Hanson, first supplementary question?

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

Minister, what feasibility studies have been done with regard to the impact on communities, landowners, the agricultural sector, and the environment—flora and fauna?

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

Firstly, approvals in relation to environmental requirements, which are some of the things that you've referred to, would continue to be required under relevant state and federal legislation. I'll confirm if my answer is not correct. But my understanding is that you still have the regulatory framework in relation to environmental approvals. The social licence question I think is a different question. I can say to you that in the last budget the government invested about $20 million in three different initiatives: one, strengthening the governance of the Energy Infrastructure Commissioner to enhance its independence and its ability to address misinformation, to support First Nations peoples and to improve complaint resolutions; secondly, working with a diverse range of stakeholders on the introduction of a developer rating scheme to encourage best practice and to foster transparency and trust, and to explore options for better delivering benefits— (Time expired)

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

Senator Hanson, your second supplementary question?

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

Will native title holders be treated the same as non-Indigenous Australians with respect to compensation, legal funding or denial of access to the property in the construction of solar panels, wind farms and transmission lines?

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

Senator Thorpe, silence.

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

Whether it's in relation to these projects or any other projects, whatever arrangements are in place under state, territory or federal legislation for engagement with First Nations communities and native title holders remain. There is, I think, a separate issue, which you have been advocating for, which is ensuring that regional communities in the broad are consulted about what is occurring in their communities—and also gain the benefits. The last point I was going to make was one of the measures that is being looked at by the government is whether or not you could deliver direct bill relief and additional benefits in regions most affected by renewable energy developments. In other words, can you provide some economic benefits, some way of demonstrating the economic benefit these communities are providing to the country in the region itself? These are all matters the government has— (Time expired)