❓ Mr. Catania questions the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation about the 'Made in WA' energy affordability investment program and its benefits for WA businesses and local manufacturing. The Minister responds by outlining the program's goals and initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 103Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Energy—Made in WA energy affordability investment
program
103. Mr Steve Catania to
the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to diversifying Western Australia's economy so that
it remains the strongest in the nation.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house what the
government's new Made in WA energy affordability investment program means for
WA businesses?
(2) Can the minister advise the house how this
program builds on this government's commitment to support local manufacturing
in Western Australia?
program
103. Mr Steve Catania to
the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to diversifying Western Australia's economy so that
it remains the strongest in the nation.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house what the
government's new Made in WA energy affordability investment program means for
WA businesses?
(2) Can the minister advise the house how this
program builds on this government's commitment to support local manufacturing
in Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for the
question. This government's investment is turning Western Australia into a
renewable energy powerhouse, and it is supporting local manufacturers by
connecting households and businesses to cleaner and cheaper energy. Last year
we launched our WA Residential Battery Scheme, which is enabling 100,000
households to slash their power bills by storing the renewable energy that is
produced during the day to feed into their power needs in the evening. That is
slashing energy bills. It is reducing bills to zero for many, many households.
That is meaningful support for cost of living for households.
We are applying that same policy
and principle to the manufacturing sector. We are providing $150 million in low-interest
loans to Western Australian manufacturers to invest in the capital upgrades
they need to access cheaper, cleaner energy. We know that if we do not exit
coal, the bills will go up. If we continue to use ageing and unreliable coal
infrastructure, we know that that will send energy prices higher. Cheaper
renewable energy is the cheapest form of generation, but we know that for many
manufacturers, making that capital investment is hard, so we are supporting
them to make that capital investment. This was created in response to last
year's trade and economic resilience round table, and it will bolster our
competitiveness in Western Australia as a centre for manufacturing. Businesses
will receive up to $15 million to invest in equipment, which will allow them to
make their energy more affordable. Whether it is commercial, solar or
industrial-scale batteries or energy efficient advanced manufacturing equipment
and technologies that will improve automation, we are backing our local
manufacturers to modernise and reduce their energy costs, making Western
Australian made products more affordable for WA consumers and WA industry more
competitive to our export markets.
This builds on our very proud
record of local manufacturing and local jobs. We brought railcar manufacturing
back to WA after 27 years and electric buses and ferries are being made in
Western Australia. We are creating secure and skilled jobs to support families,
communities and businesses in Western Australia. That is how we are making
industry more competitive. We will build more poles and wires that are made in
WA, and make more batteries and more wind manufacturing in WA.
Several members
interjected.
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: The opposition hates Made in
WA.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt!
Point of order
Mr David Michael: The Leader of the Opposition was
yelling and the alternative Leader of the Opposition over there started yelling
as well. It is unparliamentary and breaking up the minister's answer to a
proper question.
The Speaker: Thank you, Leader of the House.
Questions without notice resumed
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
Withdrawal of remark
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt. Can you
withdraw that, please?
Mr Lachlan Hunter: I withdraw.
The Speaker: Thank you.
Members of the
opposition, you are making it very difficult for us to hear the response from
the minister.
Questions without notice resumed
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: To conclude, we know that the
Liberal Party hates Made in WA.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: When they trash Made in WA,
they trash WA jobs.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, please stop!
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: The community knows that the
Cook Labor government is backing Western Australians—
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, please stop!
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: —and Western
Australian jobs.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, I am calling
you for the first time.
question. This government's investment is turning Western Australia into a
renewable energy powerhouse, and it is supporting local manufacturers by
connecting households and businesses to cleaner and cheaper energy. Last year
we launched our WA Residential Battery Scheme, which is enabling 100,000
households to slash their power bills by storing the renewable energy that is
produced during the day to feed into their power needs in the evening. That is
slashing energy bills. It is reducing bills to zero for many, many households.
That is meaningful support for cost of living for households.
We are applying that same policy
and principle to the manufacturing sector. We are providing $150 million in low-interest
loans to Western Australian manufacturers to invest in the capital upgrades
they need to access cheaper, cleaner energy. We know that if we do not exit
coal, the bills will go up. If we continue to use ageing and unreliable coal
infrastructure, we know that that will send energy prices higher. Cheaper
renewable energy is the cheapest form of generation, but we know that for many
manufacturers, making that capital investment is hard, so we are supporting
them to make that capital investment. This was created in response to last
year's trade and economic resilience round table, and it will bolster our
competitiveness in Western Australia as a centre for manufacturing. Businesses
will receive up to $15 million to invest in equipment, which will allow them to
make their energy more affordable. Whether it is commercial, solar or
industrial-scale batteries or energy efficient advanced manufacturing equipment
and technologies that will improve automation, we are backing our local
manufacturers to modernise and reduce their energy costs, making Western
Australian made products more affordable for WA consumers and WA industry more
competitive to our export markets.
This builds on our very proud
record of local manufacturing and local jobs. We brought railcar manufacturing
back to WA after 27 years and electric buses and ferries are being made in
Western Australia. We are creating secure and skilled jobs to support families,
communities and businesses in Western Australia. That is how we are making
industry more competitive. We will build more poles and wires that are made in
WA, and make more batteries and more wind manufacturing in WA.
Several members
interjected.
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: The opposition hates Made in
WA.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt!
Point of order
Mr David Michael: The Leader of the Opposition was
yelling and the alternative Leader of the Opposition over there started yelling
as well. It is unparliamentary and breaking up the minister's answer to a
proper question.
The Speaker: Thank you, Leader of the House.
Questions without notice resumed
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
Withdrawal of remark
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt. Can you
withdraw that, please?
Mr Lachlan Hunter: I withdraw.
The Speaker: Thank you.
Members of the
opposition, you are making it very difficult for us to hear the response from
the minister.
Questions without notice resumed
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: To conclude, we know that the
Liberal Party hates Made in WA.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: When they trash Made in WA,
they trash WA jobs.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, please stop!
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: The community knows that the
Cook Labor government is backing Western Australians—
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, please stop!
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: —and Western
Australian jobs.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, I am calling
you for the first time.
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