Janelle Saffin (Page, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change, Industry and Innovation. Minister, why is renewable energy critical for building a stronger economy and delivering a clean energy future? How have the government's policies driven growth in renewable energy since 2007 and what other policies have been proposed?

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

I thank the member for Page for her question. Labor supports renewable energy because it is fundamental to our capacity to tackle climate change and to ensure that our economy will be competitive in the years ahead.

Alby Schultz (Hume, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Great example in South Australia this morning!

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Hume!

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

It is important to report to the House that since the carbon price began on 1 July last year, renewable energy generation is up almost 30 per cent—

Alby Schultz (Hume, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Wind turbines haven't turned there at all this week.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Hume is warned!

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

and generation from the most emissions-intensive electricity generators is down 14 per cent. Renewable energy up 30 per cent; highly-polluting power stations down 14 per cent. In fact, emissions in the national electricity market are down 7.4 per cent since carbon pricing began. That is an equivalent of 12 million tonnes reduced in greenhouse gas emissions.

There is an industry report out today—Clean energy Australiathat also demonstrates other benefits of the policies that the government has introduced. In 2012 enough renewable energy, for example, was generated to power more than four million homes. Under Labor, one million solar panel systems have been installed on rooftops around the country, compared to just over 7,000 under the Howard government in seven years. One million—achieved by this government. Employment in renewable energy has more than doubled in four years to 24,300. Wind-power-generating capacity has almost trebled since the government came to power. Australians now face a very clear choice on the issue of renewable energy. Our policies—carbon pricing, which is working; the legislated renewable energy target; the Clean Energy Finance Corporation; the Australian Renewable Energy Agency—all of these things are driving significant investment in renewables.

On the other side the coalition wants to take a wrecking ball to the lot. In fact, on Adelaide radio recently, the opposition leader was complaining that the renewable energy target would lead to too much renewable energy. Those opposite are out there trying to bully the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, demanding that it defy the law, defy the parliament, defy the Constitution and stop investing in renewable energy and clean technologies. Their threats to remove the carbon price are destroying investment certainty and last week, when given the opportunity to explain his position on climate change, all the opposition leader could say about it and the science that underpins it was that 'something is happening'. We will tell you what is happening: greenhouse gas emissions are down under carbon pricing; the economy is strong; one million solar panels; renewable energy is up 30 per cent; there is a doubling of jobs in renewable technologies. That is what is happening.