David Bushby (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senators O'Sullivan, Macdonald, Williams and McKenzie, I move:

That the Senate rejects the recommendation of the Environment and Communications References Committee in its final report Retirement of coal fired power stations, tabled in March 2017, which calls for the development of a mechanism to retire coal fired power stations in Australia

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government does not support the forced closure of coal. The government is currently considering the Retirement of coal fired power stations report and will respond in due course.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The opposition won't be supporting this motion. This motion misrepresents the recommendation of the Environment and Communications References Committee. It is effectively calling for the Senate to endorse chaotic closure of old coal power stations like those experienced at Northern Power Station in South Australia and Hazelwood in Victoria. More closures are inevitable. By 2035, 70 per cent of Australia's coal plant fleet will have passed its design life. This is something Alan Finkel recognised in his report when he wrote:

A key challenge facing the NEM in the future will be managing the retirement of the existing coal-fired generators as they reach their end of life.

It also forms the rationale for the three-year closure notice period recommended by the Finkel review and endorsed by this government. The approach advocated by this motion guarantees community and work pain is maximised as are negative impacts on energy affordability and security. Labor stands by its call for closures to be managed in line with the government's Finkel review. With this motion, those opposite endorse more chaotic closures, larger job losses, higher prices and less secure energy supply. (Time expired)

Question negatived.