Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2026-2027
Mr JOSH WILSON (Fremantle—Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy and Assistant Minister for Emergency Management) (16:45): I'm grateful to all the members who have contributed to this debate, this conversation, and will answer some of the questions that have been put. I'll start by saying that, in this portfolio area, as across the budget, the government is focused on resilience and reform.
We know that we're living through a fuel crisis at the moment. It's interesting that that none of the contributions to date, particularly from non-government members, have picked up on that. I think that that is a very pressing concern for Australian households and businesses.
Making sure that we are more resilient has been a big focus of this budget, with a $10 billion investment in fuel security as we address supply issues, as we address cost issues. But, as the Prime Minister, Treasurer and cabinet ministers have said— The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Dr Haines ): Order. The member seeking the call?
Mr Leeser: I think the debate on this issue is supposed to finish at 4.45 and the consideration in detail of the next item is supposed to commence at 4.45. The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I thank the member for Berowa for his interjection there, but my advice is that the minister started right on 4.45, which is the instruction we have from the table office, so we'll proceed.
Mr JOSH WILSON: As I was saying, whilst we take those really important steps to improve resilience in Australia, particularly around fuel security and both supply and cost impacts, we're not neglecting the obligation of government to take on much needed reform. That is certainly true in the portfolio areas that we're discussing. I'll pick up some of the things that were raised by members.
The member for Riverina talked about the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. Of course, that was poorly managed by those opposite in the nine years that they were at the wheel. We are going to deliver and are delivering the Murray-Darling Basin Plan in full—indeed, 400 of the 450 gigalitres that need to be secured under that plan will have been secured by the end of this year.
That is good for the environment. It's good for the river system and therefore good for all of the human communities and agricultural users who depend on that. I think the member for Wannon let himself down by really indulging in a lot of name calling more than anything, and I'm not really sure what quality debate this country gets by that kind of conduct, particularly from an opposition that didn't even have an energy plan for the nine years that they were in government.
They tried 22 and they landed none. He asked about the Capacity Investment Scheme. I hope that he understands that the Capacity Investment Scheme is an underwriting scheme.
Those projects don't involve direct funding contributions from the Australian government. The recent tender, tender 7, will deliver 19 renewable energy generation projects in the eastern seaboard, with $17 billion worth of private investment creating tens of thousands of jobs and obviously helping us achieve the clean and cheaper energy transition that is essential to our future.
The member for Forrest talked about wind farms and wind power. I'm not really sure that the member for Forrest was clear enough in saying that he doesn't think that wind power should be part of Australia's energy future. It's a big part of almost every other country's future, and we have some of the best wind resources in the world.
We think that Australia should benefit from that resource; that's why we've created those zones. There are three feasibility licences in the area of south-western Western Australia, and consideration of those licences will proceed in a sensible and orderly way. The member for Bradfield did use some, I think, strangely selective number positing.
The work that we do for Australia's environment obviously includes focused work on threatened species and improving the condition of our environment, but it significantly includes all of the serious things we're doing to address climate change. Climate change is the newest and most significant factor affecting Australia's environmental condition and biodiversity, and this government is doing what the Australian community would expect.
We're taking that very seriously, making a big difference in reducing emissions here, domestically, and being part of that global, cooperative effort. Australians will look at this budget. They will see that we're backing up the remarkable achievement of having more than 50 per cent of our oceans in a marine protected network, with an additional $100 million to back that in.
They'll see the additional contributions we're making in terms of consumer energy resources off the back of the remarkable progress we've already made in taking Australia towards its destiny as a renewable energy superpower and a clean industry powerhouse. That is our obligation as government. That's what we are delivering in the Albanese Labor government.
Proposed expenditure agreed to.