Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison has highlighted that the government is preparing for a new geo-politics of energy and climate change while preserving jobs and livelihoods across the country.
It is paying special attention to livelihoods in in regional Australia, while ensuring Australia is part of the new energy economy.
This includes the government’s commitment to investment in energy infrastructure, with around $35 billion invested in renewable energy from 2017 to 2020, according to Morrison.
“We want both (employment and new energy economy) and we can get both. And by backing technology to drive that change, not taxes,” Morrison, speaking at the AFR’s Australian Business Summit, said.
Morrison further outlined that renewable energy, hydrogen production, critical minerals were all part of its agenda and likely to generate investment and jobs for regional and remote Australia.
“A good example is the Asian Renewable Energy Hub in the Pilbara, supporting 3,000 jobs when fully operational – and some 20,000 direct and indirect jobs during the construction phase,” he said.
“Our Technology Roadmap aims to leverage some $70 billion in investment in low emissions technologies over the next decade.”
In addition, affordable and reliable energy will continue to be an important focus for the Prime Minister as the nation transitions to a low emissions economy and moves towards net zero by 2050.
“And we have set ourselves an ambitious timetable to establish new energy technology partnerships this year with major partners, including the United Kingdom, the United States and Japan,” Morrison added.
Filled with confidence, Morrison said Australia was making its way through the challenges and would emerge safer and more firmly together on the other side, “preparing for a world and an economy beyond the pandemic”.