The following statement is attributable to Clean Energy Council Policy Director – Workforce Development, Dr Anita Talberg:
“The clean energy sector welcomes the opportunity to work with the Federal Government on smart approaches in delivering Australian content to clean energy infrastructure.
“Success of any strategy relies on long-term strategies that support the establishment of new, or expansion of existing, capacity and capabilities to deliver the components and services needed for our clean energy infrastructure, without driving up the cost of electricity generation.
“This is because Australian-produced goods will need to compete in global markets alongside players operating at far greater scales and in lower cost environments in the context of adequate global supply already.
“Any local content strategy must also avoid the potential pitfall of monopolies emerging within localised supply chains.
The energy transition offers important economic growth opportunities to the regions; we need to make sure that the focus remains on economically sustainable solutions that support long-term employment opportunities. For example, the growing fleet of wind farms across Australia creates genuine, long-term, and highly skilled careers in operations and maintenance.Dr Anita Talberg Clean Energy Council Policy Director - Workforce Development
“A top order priority across Australia’s clean energy transformation is attracting and retaining strong international investment – in capital, materials, equipment and labour. To ensure that investor certainty and confidence is not undermined, newly proposed policies must undergo thorough and genuine industry consultation.”
ENDS
For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Liam Straughan
Clean Energy Council Media Officer
+61 409 470 683