Marion Scrymgour (Lingiari, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Minister, how will the Albanese Labor government's $1.1 billion commitment to building a sustainable fuel industry in Australia help support net zero by 2050, and what other approaches is government being asked to consider which would harm the development of this new critical industry?

Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Lingiari for the question, and for her support for this important and historic investment in our regional communities.

The Albanese Labor government is committed to growing an Australian low-carbon liquid fuels industry here on our soil that will support our farmers, create jobs and will provide a sustainable future for our transport industries. Sustainable fuels have an absolutely essential role to play in those hard-to-abate sectors of aviation and heavy haulage. It is why we have committed $1.1 billion to the Cleaner Fuels Program to build a new low-carbon liquid fuels industry here in Australia. It is a fantastic opportunity for regional Australia; from growers to refineries, creating new income streams for farmers and new job opportunities for workers.

I am so pleased to see how our plan to create a new sustainable fuels industry has been welcomed by so many. Like the National Farmers Federation, who said:

"This isn't just about cleaner fuels. It's about creating jobs, diversifying farm businesses, and ensuring our regions remain at the forefront of Australia's transition to net zero."

The Tourism & Transport Forum, who said:

… TTF applauds this landmark investment, which brings government and industry together to position Australia as a global leader in sustainable aviation, cruise and transport fuels.

And Ampol, who said:

The announcement is an important step forward in establishing a market for Australian-produced LCLF, paving the way for a new industry and creating jobs across the country.

Those are some who support our plan of investing $1.1 billion in low-carbon liquid fuels: our farmers, our tourism operators, our transport sector and, of course, our energy providers as well.

Do you know who doesn't support this plan? It is those opposite. Absolutely and utterly disappointing. No support for low-carbon liquid fuels, a transition that is happening across the world, and the opportunities that provides in regional Australia. The coalition would rather continue tearing themselves apart over net zero than support new jobs and new industries in our regions that will ensure the future sustainability of jobs in those regions, many areas of which have seen declining populations and declining jobs. These provide new opportunities for Australians to be able to continue to live, to work and to gain an income from agriculture but also from the refineries and the jobs that are there. On this side of the chamber, we support our regional communities; we support those jobs in those regional communities, and our Future Made in Australia plan will deliver just that for our regions.