Tony Windsor (New England, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. Is the minister aware of the exciting work being done by MBD Energy and others at James Cook University and the Tarong Power Station in relation to the growing of algae from coal fired power station flue gases for high-protein food products and renewable energy? Given that the existing market for algae food products in Asia alone is valued at $8 billion and is only constrained by limits on current production, what opportunities does the minister see for innovation such as this to be assisted by the clean energy packages— (Time expired)

Greg Combet (Charlton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for New England for his question. I am aware of MBD Energy and James Cook University's cooperation on this issue. In fact, the government recently announced, through my colleague the Minister for Resources and Energy, a $5 million grant to assist this particular project. The grant is a tremendous example actually—

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Goldstein is warned.

Greg Combet (Charlton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is in fact but one example of the many changes that a carbon price is already driving in our economy. For example, grants have started to be made under the Clean Technology Program, which is a one billion-dollar program funded from carbon price revenue and directed towards assistance to the manufacturing sector to improve its energy efficiency and its emissions intensity. For example, one facility that I visited at Emu Plains called Crafty Chef has come up with changes that will reduce by 54 per cent the amount of electricity they use to produce a frozen meal for distribution through Woolworths outlets. That has cut their energy consumption per unit of output by 54 per cent—

Opposition members interjecting —

I

I also visited Richgro Garden Products at Jandakot in Western Australia, who are installing a waste-to-energy plant that uses organic waste to generate electricity, and there are numerous other examples that can be pointed to of constructive changes in the economy, and particularly in manufacturing and food processing, that are happening right now. That will continue under a carbon price. And that is why at the end of the day the coalition will not and cannot repeal this legislation. (Time expired)