Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to thank all senators who have contributed to the discussion on the Australian Centre for Renewable Energy Bill 2009, which establishes the Australian Centre for Renewable Energy as a key national body responsible for the delivery of renewable energy technology support. I acknowledge the bipartisan approach that the coalition has taken in respect of this bill. However, I would like to respond to Senator Minchin’s comments with regard to government support for the geothermal industry. I am advised that this government has provided the geothermal industry with direct support in excess of $200 million to accelerate the development and deployment in Australia of geothermal technologies. This funding contributes to a total investment in the sector of now in excess of $720 million. The support has been provided in a manner to give the industry the opportunity to prove its technological viability on a commercial scale. I believe this to be a major contribution to the diversity of energy supplies in this country.

As for Senator Milne’s comments in regard to the approach that the government is taking on the establishment of this new national body, I indicate it is a disappointment to the government that Senator Milne chose to delay the passage of this bill by refusing to grant non-controversial status to the legislation last year. It is a disappointment to the government that the Greens take a position of seeking to block government legislation that would actually improve the capacity of this country to deal with environmental challenges. We have seen that in regard to the CPRS legislation, where effectively the Greens have voted with the coalition to block that legislation. It is a disappointment to me that, in regard to these particular measures before us, the Greens are seeking to argue a tendentious political point, on the one hand saying they support renewable energy deployment while on the other seeking to place obstacles in the way of the government as it tries to see that that actually happens. I would like to deal with the specifics of Senator Milne’s amendments in the committee stage of the bill. I indicate to the Senate that the government will not be supporting those amendments. I understand that Senator Milne will be seeking to move them together to allow us to debate them in a cognate manner. I commend the bill to the chamber.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.