Trish Cook (Bullwinkel, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia. How is the Albanese Labor government supporting Australia's critical minerals sector? Why is reliable energy so important for this sector, and what other proposals have been put forward?

Madeleine King (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Bullwinkel for her fine question. She understand that Australia's resources sector is central to the net zero transition not only of this country but of the world. The global clean energy transition simply doesn't happen without Australia's resources and critical minerals, and that's whether it is the solar rays or the wind turbines powering homes and cities around the world, or indeed those powering the resources sector.

The resources sector get this. They know of the need to support net zero and the reliable energy which it will provide. Take, for instance, Liontown's Kathleen Valley lithium project, an underground lithium mine in the northern goldfields—87 per cent powered by renewable energy. Just next door, nearby to the north, the Bellevue gold mine has hit 100 per cent renewable power—an underground gold mine in the northern goldfields. It also hit net zero power by the August just passed. That is a remarkable achievement for the resources sector, and it sets a new benchmark of green energy powering this sector in this country. The transition to net zero by 2050 represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Australia's resources sector, and this government's policies will bring in—and is bringing in—the private capital and investment, creating thousands of new jobs and driving growth in our regions.

I'm asked about other proposals. Well, there is the proposal to cling to the $600 billion nuclear fantasy that was comprehensively rejected by Australian voters at the last election. Those opposite also continue to oppose the production tax credit incentive for critical minerals, and now they are walking away from net zero all together. To paraphrase one observer from Western Australia, only a mug would walk away from net zero. I could quote the WA leader of the Liberals, Basil Zempilas, in full:

Only a mug would not heed the lessons of two elections back to back. To walk away, to suddenly decide, 'Oh, I know best. Don't worry about what the election results said.'

That was the WA Liberal leader, Basil Zempilas. Now we see in Western Australia, the strongest resources state in this country, clear bipartisan support from the Liberals and the Labor government to support net zero. It really is quite a thing that those opposite decide to reject net zero and, therefore, reject what the resources sector knows is best for this country, what this government on this side has legislated for while mad division and chaos will see the Nationals squabble with the Liberals. Obviously, the split is coming; we can't wait to see it. Good luck to you on that. Meanwhile, this government will get on with delivering jobs across the regions for this country. (Time expired)