Page 2610 - Week 07 - Thursday, 2 August 2018
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The matters I have raised today are only some of the concerns that have been raised about the NEG. Some experts have labelled the current NEG as possibly the fourth or fifth best policy. Given the importance of energy policy to all of us, it is important that we in this place send a clear signal on the issue. We want to see good policy, and a policy that works. We want a policy that delivers a sustainable, affordable and reliable NEM.
I urge all members in this place to support this motion and the principles that it outlines.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong) (11.29), in reply: I thank colleagues for their contributions to the debate today, particularly the Chief Minister and Mr Gentleman. This is an incredibly important issue for ACT residents. I am very conscious of the role that the ACT government needs to play in thinking about the needs of our direct constituents, thinking about Australia as a whole and thinking about our role as global citizens. All of this comes together under this policy area.
As he is wont to do, Mr Coe chose to play the man rather than comment on the issue. It is important that we bring this issue before the Assembly ahead of the discussions to provide an opportunity for those in this place to debate the issues and express their views and for the Liberal Party to express their views and possibly contribute any ideas they may happen to have to the policy development process.
I can assure Mr Coe that I have been raising this issue extensively in COAG meetings—at the COAG meeting in Hobart late last year, again at the COAG meeting in Melbourne earlier this year—and in phone calls, face-to-face to meetings and text messages with Minister Frydenberg, as well as with ministers from other jurisdictions. I am talking to people about this in all sorts of places.
The fact that it is also in the media reflects the fact that the media is very interested in this issue. I have probably had more phone calls to comment on this issue than on any other. Rest assured that we are talking to the people who need to be talked to on this matter.
There is a long way to go on this matter. The COAG Energy Council is meeting next Friday. The ACT continues to be engaged with other jurisdictions. We are striving to get an outcome here that delivers what we need a national energy policy to do: to deliver affordable and reliable energy, to deliver emissions reductions and to find an agreement that can last for an extended period of time. They are all things that we are trying to put together here. I look forward to working with my colleagues in other jurisdictions to try to find a pathway through this matter. I thank members for their support today and once again I commend the motion to the Assembly.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Government Procurement (Secure Local Jobs) Amendment Bill 2018
Reference to committee
Debate resumed.
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