Page 2368 - Week 08 - Thursday, 5 August 2021
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MS CHEYNE (Ginninderra—Assistant Minister for Economic Development, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Business and Better Regulation, Minister for Human Rights and Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (11.45): I am pleased to follow on from the Chief Minister regarding the ACT government’s work to create sustainable Canberra jobs; Canberra jobs for Canberrans. As he noted, the ACT leads the nation on climate action, but what is also essential is that we are creating secure, sustainable jobs that come from this essential transition, that we are not leaving anybody behind but, equally, that we are using the opportunities that this enormous challenge presents us, to be able to drive growth and to create even more jobs.
In this vein, the government has been a strong supporter of emerging technologies in renewables and climate action, driving early-stage commercialisation in start-ups and in growth companies. The ACT government has used levers, like our own funding, to support sustainable businesses in the innovation ecosystem through the Innovation Connect, or ICON, early-stage commercialisation grant program and through programs and services delivered by the Canberra Innovation Network.
I thought that a good example to draw the Assembly’s attention to is Goterra, which received $30,000 of ICON funding in 2015-16. With this it developed its Black Soldier Fly larvae proof of technology. In doing this, it has created three revenue streams: waste management, pellets and meal and social supplements made from insects. It has now raised $6.9 million in investment over two rounds to expand its business. We congratulate it on winning the 2021 Lift Off Award for Agtech Startup or Scaleup of the Year.
Goterra has partnered with local organisations Capital Brewing Co and the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council, as well as national companies such as Lendlease and Woolworths. It processes food waste into protein and soil enhancers, diverting food from landfill, reducing emissions and pursuing a circular economy.
Examples of sustainable start-ups that have received ICON grants include Reposit Power, which received $50,000 in 2012-13 to deploy a commercial-scale prototype hardware and software solution that manages distributed electricity storage. It is now involved in the Ausgrid program, trialling the viability of energy storage and demand services to the grid.
The Joyful Fashionista, who is otherwise known as Serina Bird, someone whom I have known for a long time, received $17,500 in April 2021 to develop a peer-to-peer shopping website for second-hand and sustainable clothing.
Specialise Electric Vehicle received $23,300 in April 2021 to develop its high-performance modular vehicle electrification for the most challenging applications that demand zero emissions. In the same month, Rexergy received $23,300 to develop a tool that helps small businesses to reduce their energy bills by making sure that they are always on their best energy plan.
As part of CBRIN’s KILN Incubator program, several sustainable businesses are also currently receiving an incredible amount of support. Sway Aquaculture is a company
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