David Van (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australia's overreliance on imported liquid fuels threatens our energy security and therefore is a great threat to our national security. The aviation industry, one of the hardest to decarbonise, currently imports over 90 per cent of its fuel. This is an unsustainable risk. We have the opportunity to turn this risk into a national strength by developing a robust sustainable aviation fuel, SAF, industry. SAF can cut life cycle greenhouse gas emissions by 80 to 90 per cent, a critical tool in our climate strategy. Blended with existing fuels, SAF allows for a smooth transition that leverages current infrastructure.

Economically, a domestic SAF industry could generate around 18,000 jobs and contribute $13 billion to GDP every year. It would benefit rural communities, which are often left behind in the low-carbon transition unless someone wants to run a transmission line through their farm. The Future Made in Australia plan has, as one of its priority areas, low-carbon liquid fuels. This will assist in the development of SAF as a new industry. It will drive local production and reduce our dependence on imports. But that doesn't go far enough. Ideally, the industry needs offtake agreements, and we have the ideal foundation customer in the Australian Defence Force, which could support the industry through the growth phase by entering into offtake agreements at an early juncture in order to underpin the bankability of these early projects. This, more than anything else, would increase our national security. (Time expired)