Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Williams for his question. Senator Williams is right to point out that there are many emerging technologies in the coal sector that are making sure that the coal industry becomes cleaner and more efficient, and delivers even more benefits to our country and to the world.

There is great interest around the world in new technologies in carbon capture and storage. That is why the head of the International Energy Agency, Dr Fatih Birol, this morning endorsed the action we're taking to support carbon capture and storage technologies. These are important technologies to help bring down the carbon emissions of our coal sector. That is already occurring through new efficient coal-fired power stations. Carbon capture and storage offers to reduce carbon emissions from the coal sector by up to 90 per cent.

That is why we support allowing the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to invest in coal-fired power stations with carbon capture and storage. What is the problem? Dr Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency, supports the Australian government's position, and let's hope the Senate comes to the same position on this to support our coal sector.