Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Hansard source

The Assistant Treasurer has worked out a strategy; he just does not turn up for question time when we are going to ask him the first question—a very sensible strategy by the Assistant Treasurer indeed, and one he has stuck to since, because on these issues Labor is leading the way. We simply cannot allow a situation where we continue to have Australia being reliant upon Middle East oil. We have Labor leading the way because we need good industry policy, not just for the economy but for the environment. And when it comes to the use of biofuels, I want to indicate, as the shadow environment minister, that I am very supportive of an increase in biofuel use in Australia, in particular an increase in ethanol production.

There has been enormous loss of opportunity when it comes to the energy debate. We have a government that is obsessed with making small measures, taking some of Labor’s policy; a government that is obsessed with its nuclear fantasy for Australia. Yet, at the same time, it is ignoring the opportunities for Australia to be the Silicon Valley of the solar industry.

I conclude by calling on the government to revisit its decision to shut down the Photovoltaic Rebate Program which ends on 1 July next year, a program which has been well received. It allows a rebate of up to $4,000 for a solar energy system to be placed on a rooftop. Solar PV has grown by 40 per cent globally over the past five years but by only 16 per cent in Australia. When it comes to energy policy, we need support for the renewable energy industry. I commend the amendment to the House.

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