Page 1475 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 14 May 2014
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Do the Liberals really think that it is a good idea for consumers to be held hostage to rising prices associated with fossil fuel generation? Do they really think it is a good idea that consumers should have to pay more because people who mine gas can get a better price overseas and can impose those costs on consumers here in the ACT? Do they think that is a good idea? Clearly they do. Clearly the Liberal Party do, because that is the consequence of their policies. The consequence of their policies is locking consumers into high-cost fossil fuel electricity generation and energy use well into the future—decades into the future—when the alternative is to invest in renewables now, to make the transition to a low-carbon future, because the good thing about renewables, once you meet the up-front cost—(Time expired.)
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Gentleman.
MR GENTLEMAN: Minister, how has industry received the announcement of the wind auction in light of the federal government’s winding back of policies to support these renewable energy installations in Australia?
MR CORBELL: The renewable energy generation industry has received our policy settings very favourably indeed because they see the ACT as one of the few places remaining in Australia where there is the opportunity to invest millions of dollars in large-scale renewable energy projects. We are seeing strong interest from market participants. Over 50 representatives attended the industry briefing held on 8 May this year at the convention centre. This confirmed a very high level of interest amongst potential bidders in the large-scale wind auction. It confirmed that they consider the ACT as one of the few remaining places in the country where there is support for large-scale renewable energy generation.
These projects create jobs. Surely that is what we want, especially at a time right now when the Liberals are cutting tens of thousands of jobs out of our local economy over the next three to four years. Surely those opposite would support jobs in civil contracting, in supplies, in electrical maintenance, in electrical installation. Surely they would support jobs in all of those industries, but they clearly do not. These are exactly the sorts of jobs that are delivered through the renewable energy policies of this government, and they are exactly the sorts of jobs that are being lost in our region and around the country because of the policies of the federal Liberals—Tony Abbott and his colleagues in the ACT. Those policies are driving away jobs and driving away investment in renewable energy generation. And it is not just here in Canberra; it is in the broader region. We are talking about jobs in civil construction in the region. (Time expired.)
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Minister, why is the territory investing in wind power?
MR CORBELL: Wind is currently the lowest cost renewable energy source available in the market. It is around half the price of solar. It is the cheapest and most cost-effective form currently to make the shift to a low carbon future and the decarbonisation of our electricity supply sector. The 200-megawatt wind option will
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