Pat Conroy (Shortland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence Industry) Share this | Hansard source

I hear the contempt from those opposite about an aluminium smelter getting assistance on an electricity contract. It demonstrates what they think about manufacturing in this country.

This is a short-term deal but it provides breathing space for Rio and the state government to negotiate a long-term energy solution that ensures the smelter's viability. This is important because Bell Bay is a cornerstone of the local Tasmanian economy. The Albanese Labor government recognises the importance of smelters like Bell Bay, not only to the economy but to the workers and families in the community and that is why we are building a reliable energy system that will secure Australian competitiveness for decades. That is what Future Made in Australia, the capacity investment scheme and the CEFC all do. They make sure we have cheap power and in turn a vibrant and world-class industrial sector that delivers good jobs.

Opposition members interjecting—

Again, I hear interjections over there about our efforts to save manufacturing. Again, it demonstrates their contempt for manufacturing and the communities that rely on these well-paid secure jobs. Their opposition to intervention demonstrates their unfitness for government.

We are getting on with the job of supporting manufacturing in this country while those on the other side demonstrate their contempt. We saw it when they were in government as well, where they delivered 22 failed energy policies. Under their watch, 24 of 28 ageing coal-fired power stations announced they were closing within a decade when they were in power. You would hope they had learned from the past. The fact is the only way to keep the lights on and reduce power bills is to accelerate the rollout of renewables, firmed for storage and backed by peaking gas.

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