Tuesday, 15 October 2024

 Bill TILLEY (Benambra) (13:08): Last Friday I had the great pleasure of being at the sod turning of the $65 million Hydrogen Park Murray Valley. In about a year’s time it will be blending hydrogen into gas to supply 40,000 homes and businesses in Albury and Wodonga. It will be the largest hydrogen plant in the nation. It was launched by the federal Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Josh Wilson. The Victorian minister – and it is great to see you here, Minister – was conspicuous by her absence, despite the fact that this Labor government had invested $12.3 million of taxpayers money into the project. This government’s anti-gas ideology is incredibly disappointing.

The process is inspiring. Powered from nearby solar panels, oxygen from the hydrogen process accelerates the aeration of wastewater treatment ponds. Biogas captured in the process powers turbines, whose energy goes back into the hydrogen plant. The resultant heat will burn waste to create a char sought by both industry and agriculture. There were major local employers, including Mars Petcare and Bradken, just to name two, and also interested car manufacturers like Toyota. As the minister’s comrade Josh Wilson said, the plant will reduce local emissions from day one. When the day comes I hope the minister has the – (Time expired)