Coalition Senators' Additional Comments

Coalition Senators do not oppose the establishment of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). 

We accept that ARENA's establishment provides an opportunity for administrative and other efficiencies in the provision of government support to the renewable energy sector as well as for better, appropriate corporate governance of this support.

Given the Government's abominable track record in this and other policy areas the Government has sought to influence, Coalition Senators hold serious reservations about the capacity of this Government to capitalise on such opportunities.  Nevertheless, Coalition Senators are not opposed to the establishment of this agency with the regulatory functions proposed.

Coalition Senators are, however, concerned at some of the proposed investments and spending of taxpayers' money that are planned to be given oversight by ARENA, which includes $3.2 billion in existing government support for renewable energy technologies. It should certainly not be concluded that in not opposing ARENA's establishment we will not be opposed to certain programs and/or funding overseen by ARENA – in fact, the opposite will almost certainly be the case.

Coalition Senators note, by way of example, the collapse of the ZeroGen project near Rockhampton towards which this Government provided $40 million of taxpayers' money ultimately for no return.  This is but one example of many we could cite to highlight Labor's wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars.

Also, Coalition Senators are strongly opposed to the proposed establishment of a Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC).  We take this opportunity to again state our opposition given that, while the bills make no mention of CEFC dividends being a source of ARENA funding, such a measure has been proposed in the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee's Clean Energy Agreement.  We note that the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism has suggested this funding be given effect by legislation establishing the CEFC, so Coalition Senators will revisit the matter at such time as this legislation is brought forward for consideration.

Notwithstanding the serious reservations and concerns outlined above in relation to specific aspects of its proposed functions, Coalition Senators do not oppose the establishment of ARENA as a better vehicle for the delivery of renewable energy technology project funding and support and do not oppose these bills.

Senator Simon Birmingham               Senator Mary Jo Fisher

Senator Bridget McKenzie

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