Gordon Reid (Robertson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to commend the Prime Minister, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy and the Minister for Resources for ensuring Australia positions itself as an energy powerhouse by supporting and accelerating renewable energy projects across Australia and ensuring we are harnessing new technologies to power Australia's energy demands. Not only is the government embracing renewable energy; the government is also taking urgent and responsible action to address domestic gas supplies now and into the future. In August of this year the Minister for Resources announced that consultations with the public and industry had concluded and that, following these discussions, the Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism, or ADGSM, would be extended to 2030. The mechanism was due to expire on 1 January of next year. We now have an important safeguard that can be implemented in the situation where our domestic gas supplies are forecast to not meet the demands of the nation. It is imperative to note that the minister is provided the most up-to-date advice from the Australian Energy Market Operator, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, industry and other government sources before making any decision on utilising the ADGSM.

The Albanese government came into office in May with a comprehensive climate and energy policy. We are now building on this, with all jurisdictions, to deliver much-needed long-term certainty to industry and investors. Business, industry and investors are all saying the same thing: domestically we need to upgrade the transmission grid and inject more into renewables. The government agrees, and we're all in. It's absolutely staggering that the opposition has the audacity to ask us about energy and gas, when they spent a decade in government and all they left us with was division, denial and no coherent energy policy. Australians have seen a decade of mismanagement of energy policy under the former Liberal government. This has cost us jobs. It has cost us growth and opportunities in the renewable energy sector. I'm pleased to be part of a government that is now demonstrating to the world that we are once again a nation looking towards the future and embracing the renewable energy opportunities that will come from addressing our energy supply issues and by acting on climate change.

An important step the Albanese government is taking to ensure Australians have access to reliable, cheap energy into the future is upgrading our electricity network so that it reflects the energy sources that are feeding electricity into it. As more renewable energy becomes available, our energy network needs to be able to distribute this energy more efficiently. By investing in our electricity grid and by fixing energy transmission, the government will achieve this objective and drive down energy prices for Australians. For example, in my electorate of Robertson I am pleased that we will benefit from one of many new community batteries that will be rolled out across Australia. These community batteries will harness solar power from the rooftops of nearby residents and have this energy stored, to be used at night. These community batteries are one component of a much larger Powering Australia policy, which will ensure Australia is diversifying our energy sources, reducing our emissions and making energy cheaper for more Australians. I can also report that, in Narara, where the new battery will be placed, there is already a strong interest as to how residents can get involved. Similarly, across many of the suburbs in my electorate, there are calls for more community batteries.

Australians are keen to embrace renewable energy and storage technology that will ensure reliable energy around the clock and help meet our emissions reduction targets. The Albanese government is also making sure that more Australians can realise the benefits of solar and is committed to establishing 85 solar banks throughout the country. Australians voted for a government that will invest in renewable energy, and that is exactly what the Albanese Labor government is doing. Again, I commend the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese; the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen; and Minister King for being responsible and ensuring Australia continues to have reliable and affordable energy but also for being future focused about the energy needs of our nation and of all Australians.

See this speech in context