SENATOR PENNY WONG
LEADER OF THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY IN THE SENATE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
LABOR SENATOR FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA 

CHRIS BOWEN MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY
MEMBER FOR MCMAHON

LOUISE MILLER-FROST
LABOR CANDIDATE FOR BOOTHBY

SUBJECTS: Community batter for Boothby; Situation in Ukraine; Sanctions on Russia; Labor’s 43 per cent emissions reductions target; Russia-China relationship.

LOUISE MILLER-FROST, LABOR CANDIDATE FOR BOOTHBY: Hi, my name is Louise Miller-Frost, the Labor candidate for Boothby and I'm really honoured to be here today with Chris Bowen, the shadow Climate Change and Energy Minister and Senator Penny Wong, Leader of the Senate for Labor. We're down here at Tonsley for a very exciting announcement. Climate change is one of the things I'm particularly passionate about and when I'm talking to people across Boothby, it's something that I hear about from them again and again. The other thing I hear about is cost of living, bills are just going up and up and up and I'm really excited about this announcement today which will address both climate emissions and cost of living. And I'll now hand over to Chris.

CHRIS BOWEN, SHADOW MINISTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY: Thanks Louise, it's been to spend today and yesterday with Louise in Boothby, what a fantastic member for Boothby she'll make and also an Albanese Labor Government will deliver a community battery for Edwardstown. In Edwardstown there are over 1000 people with solar panels on their roof, but only 7 per cent of them have a battery. So people are missing out on the potential cost savings of having a battery and storing the renewable energy they are generating. Community batteries reduce emissions and reduce power bills. So we will deliver a community battery in Edwardstown under an Albanese Labor Government. This will reduce bills and help people reduce their emissions. To have in Edwardstown a third of households have solar panels on their roofs is great. But as I said they're missing out on the opportunity of storing that renewable energy. And we need to store more renewable energy for our energy grid to stabilise the grid, to save the energy for when we need it and we also need to store more renewable energy and solar energy for households. So this is an important announcement, we will roll out 400 community batteries across Australia. And one of them will be in Edwardstown here in Boothby and I'm delighted to make that commitment and announcement today, on behalf of the Albanese Labor Government with Louise, our fantastic candidate. I’ll hand over to Penny to make a few remarks and then we'll take questions.

PENNY WONG, SHADOW MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Thanks very much. Look this is an example of what a Government that actually is prepared to act on climate change, act on cost of living, act on jobs can do. An announcement for a community battery, which really harnesses what South Australians are already doing, what the people of Boothby and here in Edwardstown are already doing. A Government that looks to be as responsible as the people who elected it. What I say to the people of Boothby is this; you've got a great candidate in Louise, someone who understands your passion, your issues, the things that you want Governments to act on and electing an Albanese local Government is how you can actually ensure that you get a Government as responsible as you are. Instead, what we've got at the moment is Government led by Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce. And there's many things you can say about them, but one thing you can say for sure is they will never do the right things for climate change and energy and clean energy jobs. We’re happy to take questions on the announcement then we’ll go to the issues of the day.

JOURNALIST: Can you tell us about the cost?

BOWEN: Sure, we're spending $200 million on the 400 batteries across Australia. The average cost is half a million dollars. It depends on the exact design of the battery, but that would be the average and that's what I would expect to be the case here in Boothby.

JOURNALIST: (inaudible) capacity and how does it function?

BOWEN: Well, the beauty of a community battery is people sign on. So obviously, it's an opt in system. You can sign on even if you don't have solar panels, you pay a little bit extra a week. That's one of the beauties of a community battery. It enables people who don't have solar panels, because they may be renters and the landlord won’t provide them. Maybe they just can't afford the cost of getting solar panels. It might be simple as they live in a shady street, so they can participate in the system as well. And you can sign on, you then feed in your energy during the day and feed off at night. And or if you don't have solar panels, you can access whatever excess energy there is. 

JOURNALIST: So the people will save on the power bills?

BOWEN: Absolutely, absolutely. I mean, we know that people who are generating power in the day, that's great. They're feeding it into the grid. That's wonderful. But they are paid less for that power than what they pay at night when they're feeding off the grid. That's just the way the system works. So they're missing out on those opportunities. If they're storing their energy down at the community battery, it's about the size of a car. It can be in a local park. There'll be community consultation about exactly where in Edwardstown we put it, but put it down at the local park. People can store their energy in that. They don't need to go to the cost of having a household battery which are very expensive. There's a reason why only 7 per cent of the people with solar panels in that location have a battery because they’re very expensive and most families just can't make the economics add up, very understandably and reasonably. A community battery stacks up, stacks up for the household, stacks up for the grid, stacks up for the environment.

JOURNALIST: So apologies if you've announced it previously. But is this the first one you’ve announced in South Australia? 

BOWEN: It is.

JOURNALIST: Do you have any others planned? 

BOWEN: Well, it's 400 across the country. Yes, of course, we're continuing to make announcements. 

WONG: You’ll have to wait Michael.

BOWEN: One a day, one a day. hold yourself back one a day. 

WONG: It is exciting, I assume you’re            

JOURNALIST: I just want to find out how many you’re going to have in SA.

BOWEN: An appropriate number for the people of South Australia but the first 

JOURNALIST: Solar uptake is very high in South Australia

BOWEN: Absolutely it is and South Australia is one of the world's leading jurisdictions thanks to the Weatherill Government, one of the world's leading jurisdictions when it comes to renewable energy but we have a massive task ahead of us in terms of storage, Australian households are getting on with the job and industry is getting the job when it comes to renewable energy. It is a massive task to lift the amount of storage we have, so that we can have a reliable renewable energy system, which is what only an Albanese Government can deliver because the Morison Government just doesn't get it. 

JOURNALIST: (inaudible)

BOWEN: Yes, everyone will be different, but it'll be very affordable. You can basically opt in for a small amount of dollars a week, so single digit dollars a week.

JOURNALIST: And it that managed through your provider?

BOWEN: Yeah, the energy network provider networks. Well, in every case. Yeah, the energy network provider in a particular area. 

WONG: I might just make a couple comments about Ukraine and say a couple things. First, again, Labor reiterates our view that this is an illegal, immoral invasion of Ukraine. And again, we join with so many countries in the world and with the federal Government to call for Russia to desist from their illegal, aggressive, inhumane invasion. Australians stand united against the Russian aggression and stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. I particularly again, send our best wishes and compassion to Ukrainian Australians, many family and friends who are caught up in this dreadful conflict. 

Overnight, we saw yet another move by the international community to demonstrate our collective solidarity against Russia's behaviour with an overwhelming vote at the United Nations General Assembly, condemning Russia's actions, that is a good thing. But we know this will require continued resolve from all of us. Not only because we are compassionate for the people of Ukraine, not only because we are horrified at the atrocities that we are seeing, the bombing of civilians, men, women and children, but because we also understand the attack this is on the rules based order on the UN Charter that the world agreed to, in the aftermath of World War Two. So we did not see what we are seeing on our screens again. Happy to take any questions.

JOURNALIST: Do you think that there's any prospect of an ICC investigation being successful into alleged Russian war crimes?

WONG: Look, I think the international community should take every avenue, explore every avenue to ensure that Russia immediately persists. If it does not to commit to continue to put pressure on them and that the full capacity to uncover what has occurred to demonstrate why this is wrong to the world does take place. But our immediate priority must be to continue to put the pressure on Russia and obviously also provide haven for those who are fleeing this violence.

JOURNALIST: Do you think Australia should expel Russian diplomats?

WONG: I was asked about this before, we are in this time, we think it's very important that there is a unity of purpose across the political spectrum. And we have offered the Government all support for the actions they are taking so I'm not seeking to make any difference. I've seen those calls. I think that its on Governments to make those decisions and as I said We will provide our support for the Government responding on behalf of the country as strongly as necessary against what Russia is doing.

JOURNALIST: On the treasury bonds, the interest on Treasury bonds that we're paying to Russia, should we continue to pay that interest? And do you think Labor would default on these bonds?

WONG: And again, we're not seeking to create difference here. The Government of the day in a situation like this has to make judgments about what is in our national interest. What we are saying is we will support the strongest widest and most comprehensive economic sanctions on Russia. We've indicated support for both the lethal and non-lethal assistance to NATO, we've indicated support for the humanitarian assistance and that’s the approach we will continue to take.

JOURNALIST: But what about paying the interest only?

WONG: That's what I'm saying. I think the Government of the day has to make its judgments about what is appropriate. 

JOURNALIST: Do you think it would be appropriate? 

WONG: I think the Government of the day has to make those decisions. We're not seeking to make difference. What I have said as a general principle, is we will support the widest, most comprehensive, heaviest sanctions on Russia that the Australian Government feels necessary.

JOURNALIST: If the Government didn't feel it was necessary to stop paying interest or to default on our bonds, would you support it?

WONG: Well we would be consistent with my position, which is that we have provided bipartisan support for every measure the Government has put in place.

JOURNALIST: Should Australian coal will be sent to nations that are currently relying on Russian resources, like Poland and South Korea?

BOWEN: My answer will be very similar to my friend and colleague. If the Government chooses to make certain steps we will take the same constructive approach, I don't think it's useful to go through a whole range of hypotheticals, whether it's coal or any other matter. We support, have supported at every step of the way, whatever sanctions current Government has supplied, I think that is the action of a responsible, constructive alternative Government. It is our default position and all suggestions the Government makes and that will continue but I am not going to start second guessing, or making other suggestions about what the Government should be doing.

JOURNALIST: No, I mean, I think the question is about when, on the one hand, we have the priority of climate change. Here we have the issue of conflict. Do you think that they contradict each other? And would you support measures for one that perhaps go against 

BOWEN: I don't really accept the premise of the question, of course, ultimately, decisions about where Australian coal gets sent are made by the people purchasing the coal and the companies selling the coal, not by Ministers or Shadow Ministers.

JOURNALIST: Would you be comfortable though, with Australian fossil fuel exports increasing, it could offset the use of Russia (inaudible)?

BOWEN: I don't really think that's-- I don't really--  that's not how I see it. Australian exports go to people who buy it. I've been very clear that the long term trajectory for thermal coal is downward one around the world as 80 per cent of our trading partners committed to net zero. Now, in relation to any particular transactions that occur in coming weeks or months, they’ll primarily be private sector transactions, as I said, and our approach will be to be consulted by the Government to seek briefings from the Government and provide constructive support for sensible measures. But other and above that, I’m sure you can run through at least the 40 hypotheticals. I don't think you've got to get any different answers from either Penny or myself on any of those hypotheticals.

JOURNALIST: No, I don't think it's a hypothetical. I think I'm asking…

BOWEN: Well, I think it is because it hasn't happened. It hasn't been proposed. And therefore by definition, it's a hypothetical. 

JOURNALIST: But is it okay to increase fossil fuel exports and increase climate emissions in order to…

BOWEN: If coal is being burned today which is Russian coal it is burnt by some other country buying the coal actually, emissions don't go up as a result of that. But I'm not going to engage in any hypothetical questions about Australian exports, which ultimately, are a private sector matter.

JOURNALIST: Okay, we're looking at all this flooding in Brisbane and Northern New South Wales, heading toward Sydney. Clearly there is a real urgency around climate change, it is at the forefront of people's minds in Australia at the moment. Do you think the 43% emissions reduction target is still high enough?

BOWEN: Absolutely. Absolutely. 43% is the emissions reduction target released in December, it's the target we'll take the election, it’s the target we will implement if we will. And it's an appropriate target. Why? Because it's what's necessary to get to net zero by 2050. All the scientific evidence asserts that. Scott Morrison used to say that, before he committed a net zero, he said you can't commit to net zero because it would mean 43% by 2030. Now he's committed to net zero, he's denying that you need 43% by 2030, but even more importantly than that; 2030 targets we've announced is appropriate because it's what is achievable. It's not a figure we've just plucked out of the air. It is the sum total of the decisions we have made. We have released the most comprehensive economic modelling that any opposition has ever released about any policy ever. But it's not just economic modelling. It's emissions modelling so Reputex, the country's most respected energy modellers have looked through all our policies, and said they add up to a 43% emissions reductions. So people can suggest higher numbers, that's fine. They have to show how they will achieve them if they want to be taken seriously in the debate. You can't just pick a number. It's got to be a credible number. A number we released in a very comprehensive policy released on the 3rd of December backed up on the most comprehensive modelling ever release by an opposition shows how we will achieve 43%. That’s the key.   

JOURNALIST: Senator Wong I forgot to ask you a Ukraine question

WONG: Can I just, if Chris doesn’t might I might just add on the climate question you just asked. Now I was Australia's first climate change Minister and I've watched over the last decade, more than a decade as the debate politically has been dominated by people like Barnaby Joyce, and Scott Morrison and Matt Canavan, all those who did not want Australia to act on climate. And I've walked around factories like this and others, where I see the private sector so far ahead of the government. You walk through the figures that we talked about in terms of solar take up here in South Australia here in Edwardstown. People so far ahead of the Government. What they need is a Government that will be as responsible as they are being, as forward thinking as the private sector is, instead of being held back by a Government that is simply unable to act because of their internal division. So what I'd say to people who care about this, we have an ambitious target, a sensible and ambitious target. But if you really want action, vote for Louise her in Boothby and elected an Albanese Labor Government, because you will never have a Government that will act responsibly unless you do.

JOURNALIST: There’s a report in The New York Times, talking about a potential degree of coordination with China, supposedly asking Russia not to invade until the end of the Winter Olympics. Do you think that's plausible? Do you have any information about potential coordination?

WONG: I think the world has public information, which was the Putin-Xi statement in which Russia and China said very clearly, there are no limits to our partnership. And, as I've previously said, both in January and after that statement, China is in a unique position, given its relationship with Russia, to persuade Russia not to behave in the way it has. It is still in a unique position to tell Russia to pull back to stop bombing indiscriminately, civilians. Now, China, as a member of one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, as a global leader does have a special responsibility and I'll return to what I said; the reason the international community's standing up against what Mr. Putin is doing is not only because we care about the men, women and children who are being attacked. It is because we understand that this is about the global order that has kept humanity broadly safe and prosperous for decades since the end of most catastrophic war humanity has ever seen.

JOURNALIST: (inaudible) economic sanctions on China?

WONG: Our relationship with China is a complex relationship. It's one where China has become much more aggressive and whoever is in Government will have to deal with the enduring structural differences we have and we will never take a backwards step in standing up for Australia’s interests.

Authorised by Paul Erickson, ALP, Canberra.