❓ Dr. Thomas questions the Energy Minister about the Rewiring the Nation Fund's allocation to the Pilbara, WA, seeking details on project proponents, funding timelines, and integration with the Pilbara Energy Transition Plan. The Minister provides a general response, naming some proponents but deferring to the CEFC on funding decisions.
AnsweredQoN 1004Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Energy—Rewiring the Nation Fund
1004. Hon Dr Steve Thomas to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation:
It is not even a
Thursday! I refer to the federal government's Rewiring the Nation Fund, which
has committed up to $3 billion to transmission infrastructure in the state,
with the North West identified as a priority, and to comments from the Clean
Energy Finance Corporation that the Western Australian state government is
taking a strong lead over the rollout of the $3 billion and is actively talking
to about four project proponents.
(1) As at 10 November 2025, why has no real
funding been delivered to the state from this fund in the Pilbara?
(2) Which four proponents is the government
actively talking to?
(3) How much of the $3 billion will the state seek
to have committed in 2025–26, 2026–27 and 2027–28?
(4) Why has the Pilbara Energy Transition Plan not
been updated to include this potential funding?
(5) Does the government have any idea what the
Pilbara transition will look like in the future?
The President: That is a nice, long question for you,
Leader of the House!
1004. Hon Dr Steve Thomas to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation:
It is not even a
Thursday! I refer to the federal government's Rewiring the Nation Fund, which
has committed up to $3 billion to transmission infrastructure in the state,
with the North West identified as a priority, and to comments from the Clean
Energy Finance Corporation that the Western Australian state government is
taking a strong lead over the rollout of the $3 billion and is actively talking
to about four project proponents.
(1) As at 10 November 2025, why has no real
funding been delivered to the state from this fund in the Pilbara?
(2) Which four proponents is the government
actively talking to?
(3) How much of the $3 billion will the state seek
to have committed in 2025–26, 2026–27 and 2027–28?
(4) Why has the Pilbara Energy Transition Plan not
been updated to include this potential funding?
(5) Does the government have any idea what the
Pilbara transition will look like in the future?
The President: That is a nice, long question for you,
Leader of the House!
AnswerView source ↗
Thanks very much,
President. I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. It is
not even Thursday, as he said.
(1)–(5) The state government has
identified four priority corridors for the development of new common-use
transmission infrastructure in the Pilbara. These projects will receive the
state government's recommendation to be considered for concessional financing
from WA's allocation of up to $3 million under the Australian government's Rewiring
the Nation program, administered by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.
Funding allocations from the Rewiring the Nation Fund are determined by the Clean
Energy Finance Corporation. The state government is actively engaging with APA Group,
Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation and the Australian Renewable Energy Hub to
develop their projects.
President. I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. It is
not even Thursday, as he said.
(1)–(5) The state government has
identified four priority corridors for the development of new common-use
transmission infrastructure in the Pilbara. These projects will receive the
state government's recommendation to be considered for concessional financing
from WA's allocation of up to $3 million under the Australian government's Rewiring
the Nation program, administered by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.
Funding allocations from the Rewiring the Nation Fund are determined by the Clean
Energy Finance Corporation. The state government is actively engaging with APA Group,
Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation and the Australian Renewable Energy Hub to
develop their projects.
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