Future Made In Australia a Winner for Tasmanians

Jack Redpath, Principal at Carbon Zero Initiative, Hobart, Tasmania.

"I commend Anthony Albanese’s announcement today regarding the Future Made In Australia Act.

“This policy represents a crucial step forward in addressing health harming air pollution and dangerous run-away global warming.

“Importantly, it can help employ Tasmanians in manufacturing and services backed by clean energy.

“Tasmania should solidify its role as a Clean Energy Services and Manufacturing Hub, exporting high value goods and services to the rest of Australia and the world.”

“Similar policies in the US and Europe have created a market signal for huge private investment and generated tens of thousands of new jobs.

“Tasmania has a unique opportunity to leverage our abundant clean energy resources and become a clean energy services and manufacturing hub.

“Around Australia and the world, industry and government are positioning themselves to be clean energy superpowers.

“Tasmania has a legitimate claim to be an existing clean energy superpower.

“The island runs on 90-100% clean electricity, and is considered a net-zero jurisdiction under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

“Despite this, we know that there is more work to do. Whilst our electricity supply is 90-100% clean electricity, only 40% of our total energy supply is from clean energy (Australian Energy Statistics, 2022). The rest comes from fossil fuels - coal, oil and gas.

“At the same time, Tasmanians are concerned about the cost, speed and scale of the clean energy transition - how it affects their personal finances and the places they love.

“We need to make sure that the clean energy transition leads to lower power bills, more employment opportunities in Tasmania, and benefits the places we love.

“The Future Made in Australia Act is an important piece of the puzzle, creating opportunities for Tasmanian clean energy manufacturing and services jobs.