THE HON TANYA PLIBERSEK MP
MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER
E&OE TRANSCRIPT
DOORSTOP
REDFERN, SYDNEY
THURSDAY, 19 DECEMBER 2024
SUBJECTS: HUMELINK TRANSMISSION LINE, OPPOSITION’S NUCLEAR POWER PLAN, BALI BOMBINGS, AUSTRALIAN STATEGIC POLICY INSTITUTE, SALMON FARMING IN TASMANIA, ROBBINS ISLAND WIND FARM
TANYA PLIBERSEK, MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER: Yesterday I approved HumeLink which is a 365-kilometre transmission line that will connect renewable energy generation in southern New South Wales and it's going to go into our energy grid.
This shows that the energy transition is real and it's happening. As Environment Minister I've approved close to 70 renewable energy projects to power well over 7 million homes. And importantly it's not just generation, it's also connecting projects like Snowy 2.0 with the Southern Hemisphere’s largest battery into our energy grid.
What we're doing right now is making sure that cheaper, cleaner renewable energy is available to Australian households. The contrast with the Coalition couldn’t be clearer. When the Coalition was in government, they knew 24 coal fire power stations were closing and they did nothing to prepare for those closures by encouraging replacement and generation.
Now what the Coalition is saying is that they'll build expensive, risky nuclear energy in 20 years' time. They've got a plan that is too slow, too expensive and will add $1,200 to the average household power bill.
The costings that the Coalition have relied on are completely delusional. The costings that they've released don't account for transmission costs, for example. Even if you believe their costings, what you see again and again in nuclear projects around the world is cost blowouts, just as under the Coalition we saw a cost blowout in the NBN, we saw a cost blowout in Inland Rail, we saw cost blowouts in Snowy 2.0. We even saw cost blowouts in commuter car parks. You know for sure that under Peter Dutton the costs that he's claiming will blow out.
There's also the problem that in any of the states where he wants to build these nuclear reactors, no Premier wants a nuclear reactor in their state. They can't get businesses to invest, they can't get Premiers to agree. You can't rely on Peter Dutton's costings. What we know is that the energy transition is real, it's happening right now. Cheaper, cleaner renewable energy will bring down prices. Peter Dutton's plan is too slow, it's too costly, and it will push up household bills by $1,200 a year.
Questions?
JOURNALIST: On the HumeLink, when will HumeLink come online? I mean given the poor track record of Snowy 2.0, how confident are you that this will be delivered on time and without further cost blowouts?
MINISTER PLIBERSEK: Well, detailed questions about the operation of HumeLink are for the Energy Minister. My role is to approve the project and I'm very pleased that I've approved the project.
This was first proposed in 2020 under the previous Coalition government and the environmental approvals are now in place and construction can begin.
One of the important things to know about HumeLink is that wherever possible, the new transmission lines will run along the course of existing transmission lines. That obviously reduces the impact on the environment and makes the process much faster.
JOURNALIST: How are community concerns about fire risk and tree clearing considered in the approval, and what are the limits on tree clearing in regard to the HumeLink?
MINISTER PLIBERSEK: Well, because HumeLink will run along the existing transmission line pathways as much as possible, we have substantially reduced the amount of area to be cleared. We've taken a number of important environmental considerations into reducing impact on clearing habitat. And there are a number of species that we have particular concerns about, like some of the Alpine Orchids that are very low in number, so we've put in place mitigation measures to protect those species. Wherever possible existing pathways are being used to reduce land clearing.
You've also asked about community concerns. Of course, community concerns are really important. In fact, the New South Wales Government and the Federal Government can deal with these along the way, and once again by using existing transmission line pathways to the maximum extent possible, we can minimise the impact upon natives.
It is really important to welcome community consultation in all projects. We have really improved processes since coming to government. But if you want to talk about social licence, I mean Peter Dutton's got seven nuclear reactors proposed and none of the Premiers of the states where he's proposing want nuclear reactors in their state or territory. And, you know, Peter Dutton's talking about building a reactor in Collie he's not even prepared to talk to the residents of Collie about that.
JOURNALIST: Thank you. The Australian Energy Market Operator estimates Australia will need to build an additional 10,000 kilometres of transmission lines by 2050 to support the transition to a net zero economy. The $4.8 billion HumeLink project is only 365 kilometres so how confident are you that Australia can meet that target?
MINISTER PLIBERSEK: Well again, questions about the transmission lines are for the Energy Minister. We’ve got an energy transmission that’s happening right now. It’s underway. I’ve approved enough new renewable energy to power seven million homes. Those projects, by and large, are underway, construction is happening, thousands of people are in jobs. Is Peter Dutton really saying to those people he will put a stop to renewable energy projects, he will put a stop to jobs, and instead extend coal-fire power generators in the hope we'll see nuclear power in 15, 20 years' time.
JOURNALIST: Thank you. Just questions about the Bali bombings. Two men involved in the Bali bombings have been released from Guantanamo Bay to Malaysia. In your view is that appropriate?
MINISTER PLIBERSEK: Well, that is a question for the Foreign Minister. I will say, there were a lot of people who were affected by the Bali bombings, and today will be a very difficult day. I want to acknowledge how difficult it will be depending on who is impacted, who lost someone, who knows someone who was injured. It was a very difficult time for Australia.
JOURNALIST: As a Senior Minister, does this decision by the US damage our relationship with them?
MINISTER PLIBERSEK: Our relationship with the US is a strong and close relationship.
JOURNALIST: [Indistinct].
MINISTER PLIBERSEK: Again, that's a question for the Foreign Minister.
JOURNALIST: So this next question is about ASPI. Why is the Government cutting funds to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, as you know this is one of China's main grievances, another point between China-Australia relations. Is there some view here that this capitulation is -
MINISTER PLIBERSEK: That's again a series of questions for the Foreign Minister.
JOURNALIST: The Prime Minister says he'll do whatever he can to ensure salmon farming continues in Tasmania. Is he foreshadowing your decision on Macquarie Harbour?
MINISTER PLIBERSEK: Well, I've been really consistently clear that Labor is a strong supporter of the salmon industry in Tasmania. We know that the salmon industry is important for local jobs in Tasmania, but we also know that Tasmanians really value their natural environment. They value it because it's beautiful, it's unique and they enjoy it. But they also value it because it's a very strong driver of tourism for the state. They know that it brings economic value. I'm not going to comment on any decision that is before me at the moment. But it is possible, and we need to make sure that we support the strong economic growth on the one hand and better environmental protections on the other.
JOURNALIST: So, are you able to provide a timeline on when that decision is going to be made?
MINISTER PLIBERSEK: There are thousands of submissions that have been made on this issue and it's important that we take the time to consider public views and scientific information.
JOURNALIST: Are you comfortable that the Prime Minister went to visit the industry over the weekend, and you weren't there?
MINISTER PLIBERSEK: Of course. The Prime Minister travels all over Australia and he's frequently talking with local communities about jobs and the environment in the local area.
JOURNALIST: This is the last one from me. This is about Robbins Island wind farms. There's new information about how long Orange bellied parrots stay on the Tasmanian island entirely changed after COVID in the last few years, as bird experts have claimed.
MINISTER PLIBERSEK: As I say, I don't make comments about decisions that remain under consideration.
END
