Mr DUNHAM - 2001-10-18
It seems to me that there is some confusion about the Kyoto Protocol and matters relating to offshore gas, which I hope I can get cleared by the minister. Minister, there is a real possibility that the $13 bn worth of gas developments earmarked for Darwin could be based in developing countries, particularly Malaysia, Indonesia and Qatar, who are not signatories to the Kyoto Protocol. Is the minister comfortable with this?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for his question. I do not know what crystal ball he has been looking into or to which resource companies he has been talking. Certainly, in my six weeks in the job, I have been talking to all the resource companies involved with gas production in the Northern Territory. Relocating, in terms of putting downstream processing to Malaysia or Qatar, has not been on the agenda. In fact, the resource companies are still very keen to come to Australia and come to the Northern Territory.
I am absolutely aghast at the lack of understanding of members opposite in regards to how good gas is going to be in terms of greenhouse emissions for Australia. For Australia to be taking the lead in this regard, and to replace the brown coal-fired fossil fuel power stations, which you as a government for many years lauded, supported by us, about the environmental credentials of gas in terms of energy production. This is what its all about, at an international level, switching from fossil fuels to cleaner sources of energy. Our move to gas-based industries should, and will be, to the long-term beneficial interests of Australia and the Northern Territory, the thousands of jobs it is going to produce, the millions of dollars of investment.
I am absolutely surprised that the CLP candidate for Solomon, David Tollner - who is not only going to go to Canberra to campaign to put 10% on food for the people of the Northern Territory, he is going to campaign for 10% on food - is actively going to go down to Canberra and campaign against the very industry in the Northern Territory which is going to see economic growth over the years to come.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Drysdale for his question. I do not know what crystal ball he has been looking into or to which resource companies he has been talking. Certainly, in my six weeks in the job, I have been talking to all the resource companies involved with gas production in the Northern Territory. Relocating, in terms of putting downstream processing to Malaysia or Qatar, has not been on the agenda. In fact, the resource companies are still very keen to come to Australia and come to the Northern Territory.
I am absolutely aghast at the lack of understanding of members opposite in regards to how good gas is going to be in terms of greenhouse emissions for Australia. For Australia to be taking the lead in this regard, and to replace the brown coal-fired fossil fuel power stations, which you as a government for many years lauded, supported by us, about the environmental credentials of gas in terms of energy production. This is what its all about, at an international level, switching from fossil fuels to cleaner sources of energy. Our move to gas-based industries should, and will be, to the long-term beneficial interests of Australia and the Northern Territory, the thousands of jobs it is going to produce, the millions of dollars of investment.
I am absolutely surprised that the CLP candidate for Solomon, David Tollner - who is not only going to go to Canberra to campaign to put 10% on food for the people of the Northern Territory, he is going to campaign for 10% on food - is actively going to go down to Canberra and campaign against the very industry in the Northern Territory which is going to see economic growth over the years to come.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016