Senate debates

Tuesday, 2 September 2014

Motions

Renewable Energy Target

3:59 pm

Photo of Sarah Hanson-YoungSarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) acknowledges the positive role that South Australian wind, solar and other clean renewable energy projects have had in creating jobs, supporting local economies and ensuring a sustainable energy future for the nation;

(b) recognises that:

(i) the move towards renewable energy in South Australia has created thousands of jobs and pushed down wholesale power prices, without creating supply problems, and

(ii) the following projects, which have all been put at risk by the release of the Government's Warburton Review, would see billions of dollars invested in the South Australian economy and create more than a thousand jobs:

  (A) Senvion Australia's Ceres wind farm on South Australia's Yorke Peninsula, which would invest $1.5 billion into the economy and create more than 500 jobs,

  (B) lnfigen Energy's Woakwine wind farm in South Australia's south-east, which would see more than 150 jobs created, and

  (C) Pacific Hydro's Kyneton wind farm in the South Australian riverland, which would see more than 500 jobs created; and

(c) calls on the Government to give the South Australian renewable energy industry the confidence and certainty that it needs by recommitting to the full Renewable Energy Target.

Photo of Mitch FifieldMitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Photo of Stephen ParryStephen Parry (President) Share this | | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Photo of Mitch FifieldMitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | | Hansard source

The government commissioned an independent panel to review the renewable energy target. This is in line with the government's election commitment and the legislative requirement for biennial review. The panel's report on the renewable energy target was released on 28 August. The government is considering the content of the report and will announce its response in the coming weeks. The government will not pre-empt the outcome of the process.

Question agreed to.