MEMBER for Mallee Anne Webster has hit out at the Labor Party and Greens after they teamed up with the Senate crossbench to stop the expansion of Australia’s renewable energy agency this week.
The Coalition Government wanted to expand the powers of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), allowing it to invest in the next generation of technologies in carbon capture and storage, green steel and hydrogen development.
However, the move was shot down in a Tuesday night Senate vote, which Greens leader Adam Bandt hailed it as a “huge blow to this coal and gas-fired government”.
“As a result, the government cannot use public money to fund coal and gas projects through the renewable energy agency,” Mr Bandt said.
Dr Webster said the additional $192.5 million funding for ARENA would have created more than 1400 jobs across Australia.
“Mallee has the opportunity to lead the nation on renewable technology,” the Nationals MP said.
“The proposed changes would have allowed ARENA to invest in the next generation of technologies in energy efficiency, carbon capture, soil carbon storage, hydrogen development, energy storage as well as reducing emissions from steel and aluminium smelting.
“This funding included $72 million for EV and hydrogen vehicle infrastructure, more than $52 million for microgrids in regional Australia and over $20 million for researching improved fuel efficiency in heavy vehicles.”
Earlier this week, Dr Webster steered clear of backing a net zero emissions target for Australia by 2050.
“Look, I think it is more important that we are putting in place the objective – but we are not going to put a signature on a piece of paper and then not achieve it,” Dr Webster said.
“What I prefer is that we’re not effectively virtue-signalling, we’re actually doing something about it.”
– with AAP
