Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, , 2:27:41 to 2:34:28
The committee debates the impact of the energy transition on 6,000 jobs in the Hunter Valley and the reliability of coal versus renewables.
Topics: Employment, Renewable energy, Fossil fuels
Speakers: Hon Tim Ayres, Malcolm Roberts, Varun Ghosh, Unknown Speaker
>> So, for the record, the only way I can see this working is to keep all coal fired power stations open and build at least one more new clean coal power coal power station in the Hunter, which One Nation will do. Is there any admission yet that the only way forward for Tomago is more coal power?
>> See, this is this is the problem, >> right? This is the one nation. This is the one nation closed Tomago plan. >> But that's what that is. >> Because because if you if if if you were uh uh the there would be two sounds. One announcing that plan, second sound, the exit sound for that business. Coal Senator is too unreliable and too expensive because of its unreliability. Uh and uh the company has been very clear, the three companies that own that facility have been very clear what they require from Australia's modernization of our electricity capability. Uh and no matter how many times you say uh wind and solar backed by gas, backed by other forms of storage, hydro and other forms of storage, batteries uh is the cheapest form of energy for households and for industrial purposes.
>> You got to tell these people watching from home that that's
>> that is precisely the case. And no, no
matter in the world, anywhere in the world,
>> no matter no matter how much you you and your colleagues try and mislead people, people have got far too much common sense for that. Uh and it's uh not an honest campaign. Uh and it would have real practical consequences for 6,000 jobs in the Hunter Valley. >> Good quality jobs. It would destroy those jobs, your position. It would close that facility and it is a good facility that is worked in by people who are proud of their work for Tomago and for the country
>> jobs
>> and and your plan would destroy those jobs. Uh and it's reckless about those jobs because your objective is not to secure those jobs. Your objective is not to secure those jobs. your your objective is to run a a failing and negative political campaign that undermines Australia's energy security and undermines our industry uh and undermines our future resilience. uh and and you can keep asserting these these kind of propositions and you have for years and years and years as if you are the expert and all of these other people in industry uh in in energy in engineering in economics don't know what they're talking about. Now it's possible as I say theoretically possible that they all don't know what they're talking about and you do. I I'll let other people be
the judge of that. Fear minister does not replace facts. In summary, here are the numbers. You have 7,000 megawatt hours a day from gas. 7,000. You need a total of 22,800. Gas is base load. You have another 2,000 megawatt hours a day from the battery, provided the weather cooperates. Provided the weather cooperates. And we've had solar and wind droughts in this country of 4 days or more. You have 43 43 from Snowy Hydro 2 at rated capacity of 375,000 megawatt hours perom production. 43 that's it. So far you only have 9,043 megawatt hours out of the required 22,800 megawatt hours that these 6,000 jobs are hinged depending upon. Minister, how is the Tomago smelter power purchasing agreement not an exercise in pure fantasy? And that's being kind. I would use the word lie. That will cost 6,000 jobs in the Hunter and decimate entire communities. >> Your government fabricated a story that's not truthful. When the lights go out, Minister, if you're in power,
Well, uh I I I might just instead of uh responding myself offer a response from the owner of the facility who said as fossil fuels becoming become increasingly expensive, this investment combined with the power purchase agreements we have already signed positions Bo in this case same as Tomago to be to be among the world's first aluminium smelters. is underpinned by solar and wind power. Also ensures heavy manufacturing like aluminium smelting can continue in this case in Gladston. But he makes the same makes the same comments.
>> Wow, the numbers show you're wrong.
>> Again, I just in invoke the thing. The less interruptions, the shorter this goes for. Shorter it goes for uh it preserves one of the few fully integrated aluminium value chains in the world. right now. I know from your questions and from observing your questions, >> you find it impossible to conceive of how
>> numbers.
>> I I understand that. I understand that. And you repeat numbers as if that somehow adds up to something real.
>> It doesn't. That's the sad thing. But
your numbers don't. >> But Senator, there are people who who have real money invested in this proposition. Not not taxpay not pretend not pretend money real money that sustains real jobs in a real industry that needs to be supported by uh firmed lowcost electricity.
>> Where's it coming from?
>> And Mr. Brian has explained to you
>> his numbers don't
>> where it's coming from. Uh and we will continue building while you continue undermining. That's our job. uh you you you stick to what you know best. Uh but we are we are setting about the job of building a new electricity network for Australia because we take our future resilience um seriously.
>> Snowy 2 is a designated for
>> I just need to move the call on shortly. Do you have a final question?
>> I want everyone to remember the key number 6,000 jobs at jeopardy and no answers from the minister.
>> Thank you Senator Roberts. Senator Hanson