Economics Legislation Committee 
Department of Industry 

21 November, 2013

Senator WRIGHT: I have some questions in relation to car manufacturing subsidies, so we may need to have the other person come back up to the table and play musical chairs. I understand that in the last few minutes you actually gave an indication in response to a question from Senator Carr as to the budgeting for the ATS over the forward estimates up to 2019-20. Was that correct?

Senator WRIGHT (South Australia) (11:02):  I rise to speak on the Marine Engineers Qualifications Bill 2013. The Australian Greens are pleased that this bill is before the Senate today. This is a bill which we supported in the House of Representatives, where it was introduced as a private member's bill, debated and recommended for a vote.

The Australian Greens have today paid tribute to Mayor Joy Baluch, a courageous advocate for the Port Augusta community.

"I met Joy on a trip to Port Augusta last year to see first-hand the strong community campaign for renewable energy," Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne said.

"A fitting tribute to her memory would be to fulfil her dream of repowering Port Augusta with solar energy."

South Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said Joy was a strong, passionate leader for the Port Augusta community.

The Australian Greens are urging the Federal Government to commit to supporting local communities, regional jobs and a sustainable future, by supporting Alinta Energy's plans to build a solar-thermal plant in Port Augusta.­

Power company Alinta Energy is reportedly meeting with the Federal Government this week regarding the establishment of a solar-thermal power station in Port Augusta.

If the Government is committed to creating jobs in South Australia, it should support the creation of 1800 jobs in Port Augusta, Australian Greens Senator for South Australia, Penny Wright, said today.

"Transitioning the Port Augusta power plants to solar thermal power will create 1800 jobs in the community, contributing significantly to the social and economic wellbeing of people living in Port Augusta," Senator Wright said.

While the Gillard Labor government continues to short-change Tasmania, both the Australian Greens' leader and deputy leader are Tasmanian.

"Nationwide, Australians can look forward to continued effective representation by the Greens whether it's seeking a fairer tax burden for big corporations to fund health, education, public transport or clean energy technologies and national dental health care," Australian Greens Leader Senator Brown said in Hobart today.