❓ WA Labor criticises the federal Liberal government's energy statement for overlooking WA's renewable energy potential, particularly solar, and failing to support renewable energy targets and projects in the state. They call for federal support for solar projects and electricity market reform.
AnsweredQoN 382Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Prime Minister’s energy statement released last week and ask whether Western Australia’s renewable energy sector will derive any benefits. Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
Following the federal Government’s energy statement various comments have been made representing various sectional interests in the energy industry. The point we must bear in mind is that good energy policy is about balance. Yes, we need to develop new energy sources like wind and solar power, but on the other hand we need to get better environmental outcomes from existing sources of energy. We need a mix of fuel sources so that we do not have all our eggs in one basket and we maximise the security of supply. The federal Government’s energy statement contains some positive decisions. I think most particularly the constituents of the member for Collie would have been happy with some of the initiatives. Apart from its gas and oil reserves, the State has abundant renewable energy sources. It is pleasing that the Prime Minister has recognised the potential for solar energy, which is something this Government recognised some time ago. We offer incentives of up to $1 000 to people to install solar hot water systems to combat greenhouse gas emissions. So far 1 700 Western Australian families have taken up that offer and installed solar hot water systems, thus making a practical contribution to the environment. If households do that, they can cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to four tonnes a year and save themselves up to $550 on their energy bills. However, rather than assist Western Australia to take advantage of the massive solar resources that it has and thus build on that sort of initiative, the Prime Minister has nominated Adelaide and Sydney for solar projects. That is despite the fact that Perth has higher solar radiation than any other state capital except Darwin. It is an indication of the blind spot that federal Liberals have for the State of Western Australia. I put it down to the very weak representation of Western Australia in the federal coalition Cabinet. We do not have the clout in that federal coalition Cabinet to get the results that this State needs on things like solar power. How is it that Sydney and Adelaide are better candidates for solar projects than Brisbane, Darwin or Perth? It does not make sense, particularly given that Perth is the home of the oldest solar hot water system manufacturer in the country, which was established in 1953. The federal Government’s energy strategy fails on another front. We made a submission to the federal Government calling for the two per cent renewable energy target to be a genuine two per cent. It is about half that at the moment in real terms. The target was introduced in 1997. As the energy market has grown it has become outdated, so it is not a real two per cent any longer. The Commonwealth has not acted on that submission. There has been no increase in the target and no particular support for renewable energy projects. If the federal Government wants to do something about renewable energy, I have a couple of measures that it could undertake in Western Australia. I look out of my office at the large roof of the convention centre. I think that it would be wonderful if there were solar panels right across that roof. That is a project that the federal Government might want to take up. However, there is an even more important thing that the federal Government could do to assist the take-up of renewable energy in this State. I notice from the statement that it is interested in improving electricity market mechanisms to support the take-up of renewable energy. What the federal Government could do is to come over here and persuade the Liberal Opposition to get behind electricity reform so that we can boost renewable energy in this State through proper market arrangements.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: Following the federal Government’s energy statement various comments have been made representing various sectional interests in the energy industry. The point we must bear in mind is that good energy policy is about balance. Yes, we need to develop new energy sources like wind and solar power, but on the other hand we need to get better environmental outcomes from existing sources of energy. We need a mix of fuel sources so that we do not have all our eggs in one basket and we maximise the security of supply. The federal Government’s energy statement contains some positive decisions. I think most particularly the constituents of the member for Collie would have been happy with some of the initiatives. Apart from its gas and oil reserves, the State has abundant renewable energy sources. It is pleasing that the Prime Minister has recognised the potential for solar energy, which is something this Government recognised some time ago. We offer incentives of up to $1 000 to people to install solar hot water systems to combat greenhouse gas emissions. So far 1 700 Western Australian families have taken up that offer and installed solar hot water systems, thus making a practical contribution to the environment. If households do that, they can cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to four tonnes a year and save themselves up to $550 on their energy bills. However, rather than assist Western Australia to take advantage of the massive solar resources that it has and thus build on that sort of initiative, the Prime Minister has nominated Adelaide and Sydney for solar projects. That is despite the fact that Perth has higher solar radiation than any other state capital except Darwin. It is an indication of the blind spot that federal Liberals have for the State of Western Australia. I put it down to the very weak representation of Western Australia in the federal coalition Cabinet. We do not have the clout in that federal coalition Cabinet to get the results that this State needs on things like solar power. How is it that Sydney and Adelaide are better candidates for solar projects than Brisbane, Darwin or Perth? It does not make sense, particularly given that Perth is the home of the oldest solar hot water system manufacturer in the country, which was established in 1953. The federal Government’s energy strategy fails on another front. We made a submission to the federal Government calling for the two per cent renewable energy target to be a genuine two per cent. It is about half that at the moment in real terms. The target was introduced in 1997. As the energy market has grown it has become outdated, so it is not a real two per cent any longer. The Commonwealth has not acted on that submission. There has been no increase in the target and no particular support for renewable energy projects. If the federal Government wants to do something about renewable energy, I have a couple of measures that it could undertake in Western Australia. I look out of my office at the large roof of the convention centre. I think that it would be wonderful if there were solar panels right across that roof. That is a project that the federal Government might want to take up. However, there is an even more important thing that the federal Government could do to assist the take-up of renewable energy in this State. I notice from the statement that it is interested in improving electricity market mechanisms to support the take-up of renewable energy. What the federal Government could do is to come over here and persuade the Liberal Opposition to get behind electricity reform so that we can boost renewable energy in this State through proper market arrangements.
Following the federal Government’s energy statement various comments have been made representing various sectional interests in the energy industry. The point we must bear in mind is that good energy policy is about balance. Yes, we need to develop new energy sources like wind and solar power, but on the other hand we need to get better environmental outcomes from existing sources of energy. We need a mix of fuel sources so that we do not have all our eggs in one basket and we maximise the security of supply. The federal Government’s energy statement contains some positive decisions. I think most particularly the constituents of the member for Collie would have been happy with some of the initiatives. Apart from its gas and oil reserves, the State has abundant renewable energy sources. It is pleasing that the Prime Minister has recognised the potential for solar energy, which is something this Government recognised some time ago. We offer incentives of up to $1 000 to people to install solar hot water systems to combat greenhouse gas emissions. So far 1 700 Western Australian families have taken up that offer and installed solar hot water systems, thus making a practical contribution to the environment. If households do that, they can cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to four tonnes a year and save themselves up to $550 on their energy bills. However, rather than assist Western Australia to take advantage of the massive solar resources that it has and thus build on that sort of initiative, the Prime Minister has nominated Adelaide and Sydney for solar projects. That is despite the fact that Perth has higher solar radiation than any other state capital except Darwin. It is an indication of the blind spot that federal Liberals have for the State of Western Australia. I put it down to the very weak representation of Western Australia in the federal coalition Cabinet. We do not have the clout in that federal coalition Cabinet to get the results that this State needs on things like solar power. How is it that Sydney and Adelaide are better candidates for solar projects than Brisbane, Darwin or Perth? It does not make sense, particularly given that Perth is the home of the oldest solar hot water system manufacturer in the country, which was established in 1953. The federal Government’s energy strategy fails on another front. We made a submission to the federal Government calling for the two per cent renewable energy target to be a genuine two per cent. It is about half that at the moment in real terms. The target was introduced in 1997. As the energy market has grown it has become outdated, so it is not a real two per cent any longer. The Commonwealth has not acted on that submission. There has been no increase in the target and no particular support for renewable energy projects. If the federal Government wants to do something about renewable energy, I have a couple of measures that it could undertake in Western Australia. I look out of my office at the large roof of the convention centre. I think that it would be wonderful if there were solar panels right across that roof. That is a project that the federal Government might want to take up. However, there is an even more important thing that the federal Government could do to assist the take-up of renewable energy in this State. I notice from the statement that it is interested in improving electricity market mechanisms to support the take-up of renewable energy. What the federal Government could do is to come over here and persuade the Liberal Opposition to get behind electricity reform so that we can boost renewable energy in this State through proper market arrangements.
Apart from its gas and oil reserves, the State has abundant renewable energy sources. It is pleasing that the Prime Minister has recognised the potential for solar energy, which is something this Government recognised some time ago. We offer incentives of up to $1 000 to people to install solar hot water systems to combat greenhouse gas emissions. So far 1 700 Western Australian families have taken up that offer and installed solar hot water systems, thus making a practical contribution to the environment. If households do that, they can cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to four tonnes a year and save themselves up to $550 on their energy bills. However, rather than assist Western Australia to take advantage of the massive solar resources that it has and thus build on that sort of initiative, the Prime Minister has nominated Adelaide and Sydney for solar projects. That is despite the fact that Perth has higher solar radiation than any other state capital except Darwin. It is an indication of the blind spot that federal Liberals have for the State of Western Australia. I put it down to the very weak representation of Western Australia in the federal coalition Cabinet. We do not have the clout in that federal coalition Cabinet to get the results that this State needs on things like solar power. How is it that Sydney and Adelaide are better candidates for solar projects than Brisbane, Darwin or Perth? It does not make sense, particularly given that Perth is the home of the oldest solar hot water system manufacturer in the country, which was established in 1953. The federal Government’s energy strategy fails on another front. We made a submission to the federal Government calling for the two per cent renewable energy target to be a genuine two per cent. It is about half that at the moment in real terms. The target was introduced in 1997. As the energy market has grown it has become outdated, so it is not a real two per cent any longer. The Commonwealth has not acted on that submission. There has been no increase in the target and no particular support for renewable energy projects. If the federal Government wants to do something about renewable energy, I have a couple of measures that it could undertake in Western Australia. I look out of my office at the large roof of the convention centre. I think that it would be wonderful if there were solar panels right across that roof. That is a project that the federal Government might want to take up. However, there is an even more important thing that the federal Government could do to assist the take-up of renewable energy in this State. I notice from the statement that it is interested in improving electricity market mechanisms to support the take-up of renewable energy. What the federal Government could do is to come over here and persuade the Liberal Opposition to get behind electricity reform so that we can boost renewable energy in this State through proper market arrangements.
The federal Government’s energy strategy fails on another front. We made a submission to the federal Government calling for the two per cent renewable energy target to be a genuine two per cent. It is about half that at the moment in real terms. The target was introduced in 1997. As the energy market has grown it has become outdated, so it is not a real two per cent any longer. The Commonwealth has not acted on that submission. There has been no increase in the target and no particular support for renewable energy projects. If the federal Government wants to do something about renewable energy, I have a couple of measures that it could undertake in Western Australia. I look out of my office at the large roof of the convention centre. I think that it would be wonderful if there were solar panels right across that roof. That is a project that the federal Government might want to take up. However, there is an even more important thing that the federal Government could do to assist the take-up of renewable energy in this State. I notice from the statement that it is interested in improving electricity market mechanisms to support the take-up of renewable energy. What the federal Government could do is to come over here and persuade the Liberal Opposition to get behind electricity reform so that we can boost renewable energy in this State through proper market arrangements.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: Following the federal Government’s energy statement various comments have been made representing various sectional interests in the energy industry. The point we must bear in mind is that good energy policy is about balance. Yes, we need to develop new energy sources like wind and solar power, but on the other hand we need to get better environmental outcomes from existing sources of energy. We need a mix of fuel sources so that we do not have all our eggs in one basket and we maximise the security of supply. The federal Government’s energy statement contains some positive decisions. I think most particularly the constituents of the member for Collie would have been happy with some of the initiatives. Apart from its gas and oil reserves, the State has abundant renewable energy sources. It is pleasing that the Prime Minister has recognised the potential for solar energy, which is something this Government recognised some time ago. We offer incentives of up to $1 000 to people to install solar hot water systems to combat greenhouse gas emissions. So far 1 700 Western Australian families have taken up that offer and installed solar hot water systems, thus making a practical contribution to the environment. If households do that, they can cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to four tonnes a year and save themselves up to $550 on their energy bills. However, rather than assist Western Australia to take advantage of the massive solar resources that it has and thus build on that sort of initiative, the Prime Minister has nominated Adelaide and Sydney for solar projects. That is despite the fact that Perth has higher solar radiation than any other state capital except Darwin. It is an indication of the blind spot that federal Liberals have for the State of Western Australia. I put it down to the very weak representation of Western Australia in the federal coalition Cabinet. We do not have the clout in that federal coalition Cabinet to get the results that this State needs on things like solar power. How is it that Sydney and Adelaide are better candidates for solar projects than Brisbane, Darwin or Perth? It does not make sense, particularly given that Perth is the home of the oldest solar hot water system manufacturer in the country, which was established in 1953. The federal Government’s energy strategy fails on another front. We made a submission to the federal Government calling for the two per cent renewable energy target to be a genuine two per cent. It is about half that at the moment in real terms. The target was introduced in 1997. As the energy market has grown it has become outdated, so it is not a real two per cent any longer. The Commonwealth has not acted on that submission. There has been no increase in the target and no particular support for renewable energy projects. If the federal Government wants to do something about renewable energy, I have a couple of measures that it could undertake in Western Australia. I look out of my office at the large roof of the convention centre. I think that it would be wonderful if there were solar panels right across that roof. That is a project that the federal Government might want to take up. However, there is an even more important thing that the federal Government could do to assist the take-up of renewable energy in this State. I notice from the statement that it is interested in improving electricity market mechanisms to support the take-up of renewable energy. What the federal Government could do is to come over here and persuade the Liberal Opposition to get behind electricity reform so that we can boost renewable energy in this State through proper market arrangements.
Following the federal Government’s energy statement various comments have been made representing various sectional interests in the energy industry. The point we must bear in mind is that good energy policy is about balance. Yes, we need to develop new energy sources like wind and solar power, but on the other hand we need to get better environmental outcomes from existing sources of energy. We need a mix of fuel sources so that we do not have all our eggs in one basket and we maximise the security of supply. The federal Government’s energy statement contains some positive decisions. I think most particularly the constituents of the member for Collie would have been happy with some of the initiatives. Apart from its gas and oil reserves, the State has abundant renewable energy sources. It is pleasing that the Prime Minister has recognised the potential for solar energy, which is something this Government recognised some time ago. We offer incentives of up to $1 000 to people to install solar hot water systems to combat greenhouse gas emissions. So far 1 700 Western Australian families have taken up that offer and installed solar hot water systems, thus making a practical contribution to the environment. If households do that, they can cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to four tonnes a year and save themselves up to $550 on their energy bills. However, rather than assist Western Australia to take advantage of the massive solar resources that it has and thus build on that sort of initiative, the Prime Minister has nominated Adelaide and Sydney for solar projects. That is despite the fact that Perth has higher solar radiation than any other state capital except Darwin. It is an indication of the blind spot that federal Liberals have for the State of Western Australia. I put it down to the very weak representation of Western Australia in the federal coalition Cabinet. We do not have the clout in that federal coalition Cabinet to get the results that this State needs on things like solar power. How is it that Sydney and Adelaide are better candidates for solar projects than Brisbane, Darwin or Perth? It does not make sense, particularly given that Perth is the home of the oldest solar hot water system manufacturer in the country, which was established in 1953. The federal Government’s energy strategy fails on another front. We made a submission to the federal Government calling for the two per cent renewable energy target to be a genuine two per cent. It is about half that at the moment in real terms. The target was introduced in 1997. As the energy market has grown it has become outdated, so it is not a real two per cent any longer. The Commonwealth has not acted on that submission. There has been no increase in the target and no particular support for renewable energy projects. If the federal Government wants to do something about renewable energy, I have a couple of measures that it could undertake in Western Australia. I look out of my office at the large roof of the convention centre. I think that it would be wonderful if there were solar panels right across that roof. That is a project that the federal Government might want to take up. However, there is an even more important thing that the federal Government could do to assist the take-up of renewable energy in this State. I notice from the statement that it is interested in improving electricity market mechanisms to support the take-up of renewable energy. What the federal Government could do is to come over here and persuade the Liberal Opposition to get behind electricity reform so that we can boost renewable energy in this State through proper market arrangements.
Apart from its gas and oil reserves, the State has abundant renewable energy sources. It is pleasing that the Prime Minister has recognised the potential for solar energy, which is something this Government recognised some time ago. We offer incentives of up to $1 000 to people to install solar hot water systems to combat greenhouse gas emissions. So far 1 700 Western Australian families have taken up that offer and installed solar hot water systems, thus making a practical contribution to the environment. If households do that, they can cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to four tonnes a year and save themselves up to $550 on their energy bills. However, rather than assist Western Australia to take advantage of the massive solar resources that it has and thus build on that sort of initiative, the Prime Minister has nominated Adelaide and Sydney for solar projects. That is despite the fact that Perth has higher solar radiation than any other state capital except Darwin. It is an indication of the blind spot that federal Liberals have for the State of Western Australia. I put it down to the very weak representation of Western Australia in the federal coalition Cabinet. We do not have the clout in that federal coalition Cabinet to get the results that this State needs on things like solar power. How is it that Sydney and Adelaide are better candidates for solar projects than Brisbane, Darwin or Perth? It does not make sense, particularly given that Perth is the home of the oldest solar hot water system manufacturer in the country, which was established in 1953. The federal Government’s energy strategy fails on another front. We made a submission to the federal Government calling for the two per cent renewable energy target to be a genuine two per cent. It is about half that at the moment in real terms. The target was introduced in 1997. As the energy market has grown it has become outdated, so it is not a real two per cent any longer. The Commonwealth has not acted on that submission. There has been no increase in the target and no particular support for renewable energy projects. If the federal Government wants to do something about renewable energy, I have a couple of measures that it could undertake in Western Australia. I look out of my office at the large roof of the convention centre. I think that it would be wonderful if there were solar panels right across that roof. That is a project that the federal Government might want to take up. However, there is an even more important thing that the federal Government could do to assist the take-up of renewable energy in this State. I notice from the statement that it is interested in improving electricity market mechanisms to support the take-up of renewable energy. What the federal Government could do is to come over here and persuade the Liberal Opposition to get behind electricity reform so that we can boost renewable energy in this State through proper market arrangements.
The federal Government’s energy strategy fails on another front. We made a submission to the federal Government calling for the two per cent renewable energy target to be a genuine two per cent. It is about half that at the moment in real terms. The target was introduced in 1997. As the energy market has grown it has become outdated, so it is not a real two per cent any longer. The Commonwealth has not acted on that submission. There has been no increase in the target and no particular support for renewable energy projects. If the federal Government wants to do something about renewable energy, I have a couple of measures that it could undertake in Western Australia. I look out of my office at the large roof of the convention centre. I think that it would be wonderful if there were solar panels right across that roof. That is a project that the federal Government might want to take up. However, there is an even more important thing that the federal Government could do to assist the take-up of renewable energy in this State. I notice from the statement that it is interested in improving electricity market mechanisms to support the take-up of renewable energy. What the federal Government could do is to come over here and persuade the Liberal Opposition to get behind electricity reform so that we can boost renewable energy in this State through proper market arrangements.
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