Mr FORREST (2:57 PM) —My question follows on from the Prime Minister’s contribution, for it is addressed to the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources. Would the minister update the House on recent government initiatives to support the development of low-emissions technology power generation in Australia? Will these initiatives have particular benefits in my electorate of Mallee?

Mr IAN MACFARLANE (Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources) —I thank the member for Mallee for his question and for his very strong support of low-emissions technologies, particularly in the area of renewable energy. In fact, I understand that the Mildura and Swan Hill rural city councils have sought to be the solar power municipalities of the world. Taken with last week’s announcement of the biggest solar energy generator in the world being built in Mallee, it shows the way is being led by this government. The inconvenient truth for those who sit opposite is that this government—

Opposition members interjecting—

The SPEAKER —Order! The minister has the call.

Opposition members interjecting—

Mr IAN MACFARLANE —You’ve been warned! The inconvenient truth for the member for Grayndler is this: this government has a very, very well-developed set of policies to lower greenhouse gas emissions. They like to think that we are not doing anything, but 2½ years ago we announced the energy white paper and in that white paper there was a whole suite of programs to ensure that this government led the way in terms of lowering emissions.

Last week we announced a $75 million grant for the Solar Systems project that is going to be in the member for Mallee’s seat and, along with that, a $50 million grant for the clean coal project at the Hazelwood power station. These projects involve world-leading technology. This morning I announced a further $125 million for two low-emission projects in Queensland: $75 million for a coal seam methane plant in the member for Maranoa’s electorate, where CO emissions will be captured and injected back into the coal seam, and $50 million for a world’s first project to retrofit a Central Queensland power station—in the member for Capricornia’s electorate, if she is interested—to use oxyfuel technology. With all four projects put together, this is $250 million worth of government funding and $1.5 billion worth of investment by industry, and millions of tonnes of CO will be saved and geosequestered. We will lead the world in a number of those technologies, and I make the point—

Ms Gillard —Even though you don’t believe in it.

The SPEAKER —The member for Lalor is warned.

Mr IAN MACFARLANE —that these projects would not have happened without this government’s policy that was laid out 2½ years ago and funded two budgets ago.

Mr Albanese interjecting—

The SPEAKER —Order! The minister will resume his seat. The member for Grayndler has been warned, he continues to interject and he will remove himself under standing order 94(a).

The member for Grayndler then left the chamber.

Mr Martin Ferguson —He’s leaving and I haven’t been warned yet.

Mr IAN MACFARLANE —We know you are on our side, Martin. Dave Holland from Solar Systems said:

What this clearly demonstrates is that it is not taxes and targets that deliver low emissions but technology—and it is this government that is investing in that technology.