Mr MILLS - 2001-10-18
I am sure the minister is familiar with the report on the impact of the Kyoto Protocol on regional Australia by the Allan Consultant Group, and that is the same firm where your recent employee, Percy, used to work. In your knowledge of the report, minister, do you recall that the implementation of the Kyoto agreement would reduce employment in the Territory by 2.5%?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. I can say upfront that I am not aware of the report that he talks about but, in general, Kyoto has to be good for the Territory. What Kyoto is meaning to do, what it is looking to do, the principle, is to switch from fossil fuels that cause greenhouse emissions to clean sources of energy.
This is where the Northern Territory and Timor gas comes in. Previous CLP governments lauded the environmental objectives of bringing gas from Central Australia to fuel the Channel Island Power Station. I have sat in this Chamber many times and heard members opposite, when they were on this side of the benches, talking about what a wonderful environmental outcome gas provides. That is what we are aiming to do as a Northern Territory government, is to get gas from the Timor Sea to the south-east corner of Australia and see energy switching from dirty brown coal-fired power stations to clean gas from the Timor Sea.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: People sitting opposite are talking down Timor Sea gas as a clean source of energy. Dave Tollner is a goose! We will continue to fight to bring Timor Sea gas onshore, get it to the eastern state seaboard, switch from brown coal-fired power stations to the benefit of the people of the Northern Territory …
Mr REED: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was very directly related to a report that indicated that signing the Kyoto Protocol would reduce employment in the Territory by about 2.5% …
Madam SPEAKER: What is your point of order?
Mr REED: The point of order is, the minister has not even gone near the answer or the issue. He is talking about brown coal and gas …
Madam SPEAKER: I think we are well aware that the minister has the discretion to answer. I believe the minister has finished his answer anyway.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Blain for his question. I can say upfront that I am not aware of the report that he talks about but, in general, Kyoto has to be good for the Territory. What Kyoto is meaning to do, what it is looking to do, the principle, is to switch from fossil fuels that cause greenhouse emissions to clean sources of energy.
This is where the Northern Territory and Timor gas comes in. Previous CLP governments lauded the environmental objectives of bringing gas from Central Australia to fuel the Channel Island Power Station. I have sat in this Chamber many times and heard members opposite, when they were on this side of the benches, talking about what a wonderful environmental outcome gas provides. That is what we are aiming to do as a Northern Territory government, is to get gas from the Timor Sea to the south-east corner of Australia and see energy switching from dirty brown coal-fired power stations to clean gas from the Timor Sea.
Members interjecting.
Mr HENDERSON: People sitting opposite are talking down Timor Sea gas as a clean source of energy. Dave Tollner is a goose! We will continue to fight to bring Timor Sea gas onshore, get it to the eastern state seaboard, switch from brown coal-fired power stations to the benefit of the people of the Northern Territory …
Mr REED: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The question was very directly related to a report that indicated that signing the Kyoto Protocol would reduce employment in the Territory by about 2.5% …
Madam SPEAKER: What is your point of order?
Mr REED: The point of order is, the minister has not even gone near the answer or the issue. He is talking about brown coal and gas …
Madam SPEAKER: I think we are well aware that the minister has the discretion to answer. I believe the minister has finished his answer anyway.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016