Tim Storer (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on this matter of public importance regarding energy. Meaningful action on climate change in this country is long overdue. The Australian people have made their views clear. The voters of Wentworth, the voters of Victoria and the young people protesting outside this parliament this morning have all made their views clear: we must act now to reduce our emissions and stop shirking our moral responsibility to future generations. The recent IPCC report was yet another stark reminder of the urgent need for action. Reducing emissions should be a key priority of this government. As one of the wealthiest countries on earth, we should be leading the way. But the latest figures from the Department of the Environment and Energy show that our emissions are actually increasing—up 1.5 per cent from December 2016-17.

The good news is that the answers to the problem are also the most affordable and economically responsible. Renewables are now the cheapest form of new energy in Australia, and advances in batteries and pumped-hydro storage technology mean that this power can be made available 24/7. My home state of South Australia provides an example of how an influx of new renewables is putting downward pressure on wholesale electricity prices. It's also delivering badly needed jobs and investment to regional Australia. As the Senate agreed in the motion I put to it this Monday, renewable energy coupled with energy storage technologies can provide fair dinkum power that is cheap, reliable and clean.

Energy efficiency provides another good example. As study after study has shown, it not only has huge potential for reducing emissions but also can dramatically reduce our energy bills. My bill, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Improving the Energy Efficiency of Rental Properties) Bill 2018, was a direct response to this opportunity to provide cheap, reliable, clean energy with maximum savings to households.