Renewable Energy

Mr CHRIS MINNS ( Kogarah—Premier) (11:11:12): Members are aware of the Government's efforts to bring on the largest renovation and renewal of energy transmission and generation in the shortest time in the history of the State. It is crucial to keep the lights on and have consistency in our energy supply. As we saw with the default market offer this week, it is especially important that investment has an effect on builds in the marketplace. I encourage every consumer in New South Wales, including small businesses, to shop around for the best offer available. For many consumers, that was the first bit of good news resulting from the renewable energy rollout. Significantly, it came about as a result of a massive wave of private sector investment in the energy market, which is something we need in this State. New South Wales has gone from being one of the worst jurisdictions in the country for renewable energy investment to today being, undeniably, the leading State for renewable energy investment. Since Labor came to office, the Government has approved 47 generation and storage projects, including onshore wind, large-scale—

Mr Michael Kemp: What have prices done?

Mr CHRIS MINNS: What was that?

The SPEAKER: I call the member for Oxley to order for the first time.

Mr CHRIS MINNS: Are you for renewable energy or against it?

The SPEAKER: If the member for Oxley continues to interject, he will be removed from the Chamber.

Ms Felicity Wilson: Point of order—

Mr CHRIS MINNS: You can't remember. What day is it today?

The SPEAKER: The Clerk will stop the clock. The member for North Shore rises on a point of order.

Ms Felicity Wilson: My point of order is a request that the Premier direct his comments through the Chair. If Opposition members are to be sanctioned, then the Premier should be also.

The SPEAKER: I recognise the righteous intent of the point of order, and I uphold it. It is applicable to all members. I understand it is hard for the member for Oxley when the Premier calls him out.

Mr CHRIS MINNS: In any event, we have come to a fork in the road on investment in renewable or other forms of energy. The State, the Parliament and political parties need to make a decision. As I revealed in the House yesterday, the CSIRO 2024-25 GenCost report estimates that restarting and renovating existing coal‑fired power infrastructure in this State would cost $50 billion. It is probably four times that amount to begin a nuclear energy industry from scratch in New South Wales alone, at about $200 billion. Those are the costs of change. I was interested to hear the Leader of the Opposition speak on this topic recently on The Pay Off with Sylvia Jeffreys podcast.

Mr Mark Coure: That's a good podcast.

Mr CHRIS MINNS: It is a good podcast. Sylvia Jeffreys asked the Leader of the Opposition, "What about net zero because, in light of the current fuel shock, fossil fuels are back in fashion, I think it's safe to say. Would you be inclined to shift your policy on that front?" The Leader of the Opposition responded, "Well, at the moment, in New South Wales, we have a position, the Coalition—well, the Liberals have a position that we are maintaining net zero … on the horizon." [Extension of time]

To which Jeffreys replied, "Seems pretty vague." That really sums up the Opposition. Yesterday afternoon there was a straightforward motion before the House relating to renewable energy, and Coalition members had to make a decision about whether they supported or opposed the road map. It was a straightforward vote. A number of crossbenchers said they were against it. We know One Nation is against it. Largely, Liberal Party members voted in favour of the renewable energy pathway, and National Party members voted against renewable energy in New South Wales. Last I heard, the Liberal Party and The Nationals were in a coalition. I make this point, particularly to the member for Upper Hunter: If you think you are going to go to your electorate and tell them you are against it but the Liberal Party is for it—

The SPEAKER: I call the member for Upper Hunter to order for the first time.

Mr CHRIS MINNS: —I make it clear, mate, Barnaby Joyce is going to make mincemeat out of you. You are not going to know whether you are Arthur or Martha. He is going to smash your position into a thousand pieces.

The SPEAKER: Order! I am on my feet. I direct the member for Upper Hunter to remove himself from the Chamber under Standing Order 249A until the end of question time.

[Pursuant to standing order the member for Upper Hunter left the Chamber at 11:16.]

Th e SPEAKER: That was grossly disorderly. I will not tolerate such behaviour for the remainder of question time.

Mr CHRIS MINNS: Here is the point. You have a policy position that is fundamental to the economy—

Ms Felicity Wilson: Point of order—

The SPEAKER: The Clerk will stop the clock. The member for North Shore rises on a point of order.

Mr CHRIS MINNS: You know what? Don't worry about it.

Ms Felicity Wilson: Mr Speaker, earlier you upheld my point of order about inciting members across the Chamber. The Premier commenced the attack on the member for Upper Hunter, and he has not been sanctioned. I ask that you consider the Premier similarly.

The SPEAKER: The member for North Shore will resume her seat. I have been very tolerant of the member for North Shore, and I have been so for a while.