Page 3678 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 28 October 2014
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Our solar auction process has clearly delivered. An independent review of the process undertaken by SKM in October last year concluded that the process has been highly successful. It has effectively achieved all its targeted outcomes, resulting in a competitive process that provides the government and therefore the community with a significant number of high quality proposals to choose from that offer relatively low feed-in tariff rates, thus providing value for money for ACT consumers. The success of the auction proves that the policy delivers a viable path to transition away from fossil fuel electricity generation and achieves our legislated targets to reduce greenhouse gas emission.
This shortlisting as a finalist is recognition of this government’s commitment to action on climate change, on our commitment to make the transition to a low carbon energy future and showcases our capacity to compete and lead policy innovation at a national level.
I am particularly grateful for the wonderful efforts of the solar auction team in the Environment and Planning Directorate for their strong work in this area. Listing as a finalist is recognition not only of the government’s overall policy direction but of the hard and dedicated work of a small number of capable and enthusiastic ACT public servants. The listing as a finalist is recognition of them also. The finalists will be outlined further at the awards night on 11 November and we look forward to finding out the results of the winning entry.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Minister, has there been further recognition of ACT’s sustainability policies?
MR CORBELL: I am pleased to say the government’s program in relation to sustainability, in particular its commitment to the development of renewable energy generation, is being recognised nationally and internationally. Just last week I was very pleased to participate in the global green growth forum in Copenhagen, Denmark. I was very honoured to be invited to this forum, on behalf of the government, by the Prime Minister of Denmark, particularly as only four Australians were invited to this forum this year. Two hundred and fifty people from across the world came together to discuss the theme of changing production and consumption patterns through transformative action.
The global green growth forum focused on a number of sustainability issues common to many nations, including many issues that are relevant to the ACT, such as energy efficiency improvements in buildings, sustainable urban development, land use and restoration, and effective water resource management. It was a great opportunity to share the ACT government’s vision, action and progress towards a more sustainable future. We have strong greenhouse gas reduction targets, we have nation-leading renewable energy targets, and we have seen significant achievements in recent months with the opening of our first large-scale solar project, and the largest in Australia, right here in the ACT.
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