Zed Seselja (ACT, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Small is right. These sectors keep the Western Australian economy moving. Critical to supporting jobs in these sectors is supporting the technology that allows them to offset or abate their emissions. Our changes to ARENA's mandate would have provided $192.5 million in new funding to back technologies like healthy soils, carbon capture and storage, reduced emissions for aluminium and steel, energy efficiency and clean hydrogen. One in 10 Western Australian jobs are in the mining industry. This makes the development of carbon capture and storage technology vital for WA. Yet those opposite voted against it. I know that 'each-way Albo' is heading to WA. He is heading to WA next week to hold a shadow cabinet meeting. This will be the test for him: will he be honest with the people of WA and the Pilbara and outline his plan to tax his way to net zero emissions and the impacts of that on the WA and Australian economies?