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Illawarra Renewable Energy Infrastructure

Published on: May 2022

Record: HANSARD-1323879322-124277

Illawarra Renewable Energy Infrastructure

Mr PAUL SCULLY (Wollongong) (19:21:21):

During the lead‑up to the Federal election there has been a lot of talk about jobs and boosting renewable energy. While the New South Wales Treasurer, who is presiding over the highest per capita taxation of any State or Territory in the country, is busy warning about higher taxes under the teal Independents, he is ignoring the delivery of his own commitments. More than 530 days have passed since the passage of the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Bill 2020 and its establishment of the goal of maximising local content for renewable energy infrastructure in New South Wales. The bill was developed on the back of a local steel mandate promised by the former Deputy Premier. When the bill passed, the Illawarra industry stood poised, ready to be involved. Its members saw the opportunity to be part of the evolution of energy generation, and to support and create more jobs. Yet they wait and they wait and they wait.

They realise now what many have well understood about this tired, decade‑old Government: Things are often announced with great fanfare and blaring headlines, and are almost always delayed or ignored. I note recent reports that in the Central West Renewable Energy Zone a shortlist of tenderers has been announced. At the same time, the report from the Renewable Energy Sector Board—established after lobbying by Labor, including me, in an effort to do everything possible from opposition to make sure our region had a genuine shot at local jobs in the building of renewable energy infrastructure—has been sitting with the Treasurer, and Minister for Energy since 17 February. That is nearly 100 days. Similarly, $70 million for hydrogen projects in the Illawarra and the Hunter continues to sit in a bank account.

The Illawarra has a proud history of contributing to major projects. We built the Bass Strait oil rigs, we built sections of the Sydney Harbour Tunnel and we stand ready to contribute again. There are companies building strong and hopefully long‑term businesses in the region: organisations like Coregas and Hyzon Motors, which will have a heavy vehicle hydrogen refuelling station in Port Kembla soon; EcoJoule Energy, which is developing new types of community batteries; Hysata, which is developing a hydrogen production technology that many believe will crack the $2 per kilogram goal price; and Energy Australia, which is soon to receive the gas turbine for its Tallawarra B project, which will be the first net‑zero emissions hydrogen‑ and gas‑capable power plant.

Yet the New South Wales Government delays and dithers in delivering its hydrogen commitments, and the Morrison Government has not bothered to declare Port Kembla a hydrogen hub. All the while the Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Plan 2041 contains grand but largely hollow statements about new industries and jobs, connections with Sydney and the world, and the like. Big statements, big announcements and no delivery is the story of the Perrottet Government. So when it comes to the Illawarra's future and the commitments of various political parties to secure jobs for our region, we have the New South Wales Liberals, who are all talk and no action; the NSW Nationals, who are taking some action but are not really interested; and The Greens, who always talk a big game on so‑called "transition" but inexplicably leave the Illawarra out of their local transition authority list. In their Federal policy, The Greens made that promise to every coal community in the country except the Illawarra.

On the other hand, Labor is working at a Federal and New South Wales level with unions and businesses in the Illawarra, through groups like Recharge Illawarra and through genuine local commitments at this Federal election, to make sure the Illawarra is ready to contribute and is at the heart of producing the building blocks of the future economy. Why? That is because Labor members believe in the Illawarra's capacity and capability to deliver. I again appeal to the Treasurer to get on with it. He can immediately do three things to provide certainty to workers in the Illawarra who stand ready to help build a better future for their children. Firstly, he can release the Renewable Energy Board report about maximising the use of local content in renewable energy projects. We would all benefit from having a look at what it has to say. Secondly, he could set a deadline for the adoption and implementation of the recommendations of the board. I suggest that this be no later than 30 June this year, lest other renewable energy zone projects go out the door. Thirdly, he can get the grants for hydrogen projects in the Illawarra and Hunter out the door so people can get on with the task of doing those projects. There should be no further delay, because dithering is costing the Illawarra investments and jobs.

I will continue to raise the Government's neglect when it comes to delivering on its commitments to ensure local content in renewable energy infrastructure and to help build a hydrogen industry in the Illawarra. Labor entered into negotiations with the Government in good faith on key elements of that energy infrastructure bill in late 2020. We did so believing, even trusting, that there would be a genuine attempt by the Government to include regions like the Illawarra in the future of the State's development and that the Treasurer was sincere about including workers in regions like the Illawarra in the future of the State.

I am pleased the Parliamentary Secretary is in the Chamber listing to this, because she can go back to her office tonight and get the ball rolling right now. The Treasurer can only crow about bipartisan political support for the State's zero emissions target by 2050 because Labor, in good faith, thought it had a sincere partner in those negotiations. The fact that more than 530 days later the Illawarra continues to wait suggests that there is, in fact, no sincerity in the intent of the Government to include the Illawarra in the renewable energy future of New South Wales at all.

Ms FELICITY WILSON (North Shore) (19:26:24):

I once again congratulate the New South Wales Nationals and Liberal Government and the Minister for Energy, Matt Kean, for leading the way on renewable energy and the net zero future for New South Wales, including in the regions, the Hunter and the Illawarra. One of the flagship initiatives in the $80 billion in investment that will be driven through our hydrogen strategy to 2050 is the hydrogen hubs in the Hunter and the Illawarra, and I would like to make sure the House knows that we recently sought expressions of interest for participation in those hubs. The response was overwhelming: Twenty-one applications constituting $4 billion worth of investment achieved. The production potential is almost 268,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year and up to six gigawatts of electrolyser capacity. That is more than eight times the State's target. It shows that this Government is delivering constantly and working alongside the Illawarra and the Hunter to do so.