Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Wong. Minister, exactly how many wind turbines, solar panels, batteries and kilometres of transmission lines were built last month?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator. I don't have a monthly breakdown of what has occurred in terms of renewables since we came to government. But what I can say to you is that we have invested $22.5 billion to, over the next decade, help make Australia a renewable energy superpower. We have a budgeted plan that is backed by the experts at AEMO, the Australian Energy Market Operator. They have an Integrated System Plan that looks at the total cost, out to 2050, of generation, storage and transmission of renewable energy, which the government is working to and is contributing to.

I would also make the point, Senator—and you do understand markets—that the uncertainty under the coalition meant that 24 out of 28 coal-fired power stations announced their closure. We did not have new investment to replace them at the scale needed, and that is because the market knew that, with 20-plus energy policies, there was no certainty to enable investment in additional generation and supply. If we want to bring prices down and ensure reliability, we have to have more supply.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Roberts, first supplementary?

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, the government's own figures to meet your net zero target showed that over the next eight years you need to install and connect more than 40 wind turbines a month, 22,000 solar panels a day, 48 gigawatt hours of batteries and 28,000 kilometres of transmission lines—install and connect. You're building nothing near those levels. Will you admit your wind and solar plan is an unachievable pipedream?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Roberts, I would absolutely concede that this is a big transition. You would have heard me in response—

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a big transition.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

Gerard Rennick (Queensland, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

You guys were bagging out the bill before.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Rennick! I've just called Senator Canavan to order. Minister, please continue.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

You would have heard me, Senator, when the Greens—

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Watt, order!

Gerard Rennick (Queensland, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I'd destroy you guys in a heartbeat!

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I would ask senators to not call out across the chamber. Minister Wong, please continue.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator, you would have heard me say to the Greens, when they sought higher targets, that this is a big transition. We accept that. The advice I have—and I'll see if I can get anything further—is that we have had a 25 per cent increase in renewable generation in the national electricity market since 2022. We have 4.6 gigawatts of new generation and storage, which is part of the operator's outlook since their last report. We've had 6.8 gigawatts of new generation approved, up from 4.2 gigawatts. As at the end of 2023, 27 utility-scale batteries are under construction, and 5.9 gigawatts— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Roberts, second supplementary?

Malcolm Roberts (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Unlike with coalmines, there's no obligation for industrial wind and solar sites to rehabilitate the land. The cost of pulling down wind and solar sites is left completely with landowners and farmers who have no idea what they're signing up for. Minister, does your wind and solar plan rely on saddling farmers with the entire cost of disposal, or will your government legislate rehabilitation bonds for wind and solar projects?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator, what I would say to you is that there has been a lot of investment and a lot of interest from Australians, in terms of investors but also landowners and landholders, to be part of this transition. It is true that there are a lot of challenges associated with it, including investment in transmission, which is one of the reasons the government is working on both increasing the flexibility of the system and ensuring that more capacity is delivered across the country. For example, our Capacity Investment Scheme has delivered over 32 gigawatts of capacity. We've had the largest ever single tender for renewable energy, which is currently open for bids.

In relation to your issues, I don't have advice on— (Time expired)