Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Smith for that question. The impact on the economy of another state-based 50 per cent renewable energy target would be very bad. It would be bad for jobs and it would be bad for families. It would be particularly bad if such a proposal were implemented in our home state of Western Australia, because Western Australia is an energy island. Western Australia is not part of the National Electricity Market. If events like those in South Australia were to happen in Western Australia, there would not be an interconnector to save businesses and families in Western Australia faced with energy blackouts.

That is, of course, why WA Labor's commitment in this election to introduce a renewable energy target of at least 50 per cent is so reckless. How do we know that Labor is committed to a 50 per cent renewable energy target in Western Australia? Firstly, the shadow minister in Western Australia, Bill Johnston, told an environmental law conference last week:

The Labor Party's target is at least 50 per cent by 2030. We don’t believe that that is going to push up prices … we believe it will be done on a competitive basis and, as I say, I think setting a target leads to policy action and I think there are a lot of policy actions that are required.

Then of course, last week, we had an exclusive in The Australian under the headline, 'WA Labor to push for 50 per cent renewables target', saying that Labor in WA was poised to announce that it would set a 50 per cent renewable energy target. All of us in this business know that these stories do not appear by accident; they are planted. But yesterday, we found out for sure that Labor in WA is committed to a WA renewable energy target of 50 per cent. Why? Because this is what Mr McGowan said:

There will be no renewable energy target, at a state level, under any government I lead.