Martin Ferguson (Batman, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Transport, Roads and Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

I appreciate the parliamentary secretary’s comments on ethanol. I clearly do not support mandating. The issues I raise are serious issues, going to what is a very complex debate now about where we go on ethanol and whether or not what is occurring in some states is potentially going to have an impact on the price of petrol generally because of an almost monopolistic position of Manildra with respect to ethanol production in the future, and consumers possibly being the losers. But that is an issue to be followed up by the department, because I think Australian consumers want an answer to that question of whether or not there are alternatives to the Manildra type of production, such as lignocellulosic ethanol production. Continuing with respect to the fuel debate: what is the status of the titles over the Gorgon and Greater Gorgon gas fields, and are they held in production licences or retention leases?

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