David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Can the minister advise the number of hectares of prime agricultural land that will be required for solar farms as part of the government's renewable energy mix?

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, members on my left! The member for Barker. The Leader of the Nationals asked his question in silence and the minister will be heard in silence.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm delighted to take a question from the Leader of the National Party about solar farms and prime agricultural land. The week before last I opened Australia's largest solar farm at Uralla in the electorate of the member for New England, but the Member for New England wasn't there. The state member, Mr Marshall, was there to join me in celebrating the opening. We had the big shearing clips out to cut the ribbon.

The interesting thing about Australia's largest solar farm in Uralla—the honourable member, the Leader of the National Party, asked me about prime agricultural land and solar farms, and I'm delighted that he did. At Australia's largest solar farm in Uralla, the proponent has worked with the landowners—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Spence is warned.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

an agricultural family of many generations standing in New England, and they have designed the solar panels as such—

Opposition members interjecting—

Don't you want to hear about the wonderful interaction of agriculture and renewable energy in Uralla?

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will resume his seat.

The member for New England. Order!

Government members interjecting—

Members on my right.

The member for Spence will leave the chamber under 94(a).

The member for Spence then left the chamber.

This continual interruption will not continue. I want to hear from the Leader of the Nationals.

David Littleproud (Maranoa, National Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The point of order is on relevance. This is a very tight question around the number of hectares of prime agricultural land across the country. Not in one specific place; across the country. If he doesn't know, he should sit down. But farmers are getting very concerned about it.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Resume your seat.

The minister for infrastructure will cease interjecting or she'll be warned and asked to leave the chamber as well.

The member for Hume: one more time and you'll be warned as well. You've had a fair go. The Minister for Climate Change and Energy has been going for one minute. I'm going to ask him to return. It was a specific question—

An honourable member interjecting—

Order. I'm going to give him the call, unless I can't hear him. He has the call.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the National Party asked me about agricultural land and solar farms. The wonderful thing about agricultural land and solar farms is how they can interact. At Australia's largest solar farm, in the electorate of the member for New England, the landowners have worked with the company so the solar panels are designed so they can—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Resume your seat.

The Minister for Climate Change and Energy, resume your seat. Leader of the Nationals, resume your seat. It's not a free for all where you jump up. You've had a point of order. The minister can assist the House by returning back to the question.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When the drought hits, they have a diverse source of income. This is the point. They say that solar farms and renewable energy and agriculture can't co-exist.

Honourable members interjecting—

They're wrong! They don't understand the regions!

Honourable members interjecting—

They don't understand the areas they're meant to represent. Maybe if the member for New England would turn up and listen, they would know.

Government members interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members on my right and the member for Hasluck will cease interjecting. I'm issuing a general warning across the House. That behaviour is completely unacceptable.