Interview with Greg Jennet, ABC Afternoon Briefing

GREG JENNET, HOST: Now, apart from honouring Joe Biden's service and respect for Australia as president, well, throughout his career, in many ways, don't expect the Australian Government to run heavy commentary on political affairs in America before the election. Even so, we started out right there before moving on to other matters in her portfolio, when we spoke to Assistant Climate and Energy Minister Jenny McAllister.

Jenny McAllister, you're back with us once again. Thank you. Why don't we start internationally? Of course, the Biden Presidency will come to an end in January. People might debate for years what the policy legacy of that is. But in relation to Australia, beyond AUKUS, there is his Inflation Reduction Act, which has some bearing on your environmental policies, Future Made in Australia and the like. Will that Inflation Reduction Act outlive his presidency, do you think?

SENATOR JENNY MCALLISTER, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE & ENERGY: Well, it is a really big day for President Biden and the people of the United States. The Biden Presidency has obviously also been very important for Australia. We've had a deep partnership with President Biden and his team. They are a good friend to Australia. And as you've mentioned in your question, we've been able to work closely with the United States administration on AUKUS, on questions around climate change and more generally on a deeper and closer level of economic integration. I think questions about the future of American politics, who will sit in the White House after the election are, of course, questions for the American people. And we wouldn't speculate about the outcome of that election. What we can say with a great deal of confidence is that there is a deep level of trust and engagement between ourselves and the American people and certainly between our governments. We would expect that to be able to continue under any administration. Over many years, Australian governments of both persuasions have dealt with American administrations of both persuasions with great effectiveness. And it's because those ties that bind us together are so close and so deep.

JENNET: I understand that that is the established position, I think, respected on both sides of Australian politics, to be fair. Look, just finally on this, and I won't delay you too long, because I do want to get to some domestic policy here, Jenny. But you are a strong advocate, always have been, for gender equality. Kamala Harris may well, she's already the first female Vice President in US history, and she may well have a shot at becoming the first female President. Do you think she will have an appeal to women who might feel alienated or affronted in some ways by Donald Trump's politics?

MCALLISTER: Greg, you know that I am a very strong advocate for women and for women's leadership. However, I think you also know that I'm not going to comment on the candidacy of anyone in the US presidential election. I think it's in Australia's interests that our government remains focused on working with the current administration and prepares ourselves for working with whoever the US people elect at the election.

JENNET: All right, let's move on because I promised I would. And maybe there's not much more to be gained by asking you further about domestic politics in the US, but here in Australia, you’re upgrading standards yet again for energy efficiency, particularly in relation to appliances that many of us might have in our homes. You'll be of an age, Jenny McAllister, to remember that halogen light globes were all the rage in design through the 1990s and 2000s, but not anymore. What's happening there? Are you actually banning them from sale?

MCALLISTER: Look, can I just start by taking a quick step back and then come back to the questions around lighting? We are going through a really interesting period in the history of energy technology in this country. You know, in the old days, electricity was generated a small number of places and then fed through to homes. Increasingly, homes and businesses both consume generation from central power generators, but also produce it at home. We need to make sure that all of the policy settings, all the regulations are in place to allow consumers to get the very best out of that situation. It's a real focus for the work that we do with the State and Territory Energy Ministers around the country. And that's one of the things that we were very focused on at the meeting we've just had on Friday. We talked a bit about consumer protection and the rules that exist to protect consumers, particularly in their relationship with their retailers. We talked about the steps that need to be taken in the regulatory environment to enable new technologies to come into homes particularly. We're thinking, of course, about increasing capabilities for electric vehicles to actually power homes, or even perhaps contribute to the power in the grid. But finally, we're thinking about energy efficiency because whether it's light bulbs or washing machines or digital screens or a heat pump, consumers need to know that when they go into a shop, they can be assured that the product will be a good performing product. And they also need to have good information to let them choose between different products, including good information about energy performance.

JENNET: I understand the background. Thank you. I don't want to get too bogged down in one product in particular, but I'd be aware, and you probably are too, Jenny, that there may be a lot of halogen downlights left in homes around in Australia. Maybe in the interest of public information, what is it that you're doing and how will consumers have to adapt to that?

MCALLISTER: Yeah, we've now got really good substitutes for halogen lights in LEDs, a very, very wide variety of LED products, and they are significantly better performing than the halogens. We've got estimates that would see a household that changed out ten light bulbs from halogens to LEDs save hundreds of dollars a year in energy costs. It's a really important thing that we make sure that when consumers are buying a product, it's not going to cost them more than it needs to. And so we will see halogens withdrawn from sale. But the good news is that there's an LED product that will perform just as well and it will save households a lot of money.

JENNET: But is there an upfront cost for them, though? Because it's not just the bulb, as I understand it, that needs to be replaced. In many cases, it will be the entire fitting itself that might entail an electrician coming to a premises. So, it's not really cost-free in the short term, is it?

MCALLISTER: Look, all of the information we've got is that this will save consumers money. We go through a really extensive process looking at the economics of the decision. And importantly, this is a decision that's been supported by consumer groups, it's been supported by the Energy Efficiency Council, and of course, it's been supported by the Lighting Council. The lighting manufacturers and the importers are ready to get on with this. And we're really looking forward to very good outcomes for Australian consumers.

JENNET: Is anyone going to sponsor one of those free in-home exchange services? As we saw when LED bulbs first came onto the market, replacing incandescent ones, many of us would remember those schemes. Is the government contemplating anything like that?

MCALLISTER: That's not part of our plans, Greg. What we are planning to do is make sure that across a whole range of products, whether it's lighting, heat pumps, air conditioners, dishwashers, you've got really good information and you can shop confidently knowing that you're going to have a product in your home that performs well and doesn't cost you more than it should to.

JENNET: Ok, quick final one on a separate matter entirely, Jenny McAllister. Parliament's back in three weeks and they're still hanging over the ALP and the union movement, the construction division of the CFMEU and its entry into administration. When does the government expect the workplace regulator, the general manager of the commission, to take that step? Will it be done when parliament returns?

MCALLISTER: Look, the questions of timing really are questions for the regulator themselves. They've indicated publicly that they're seeking legal advice about the options available to them under the Registered Organisations Act. The core interest here, of course, is returning the CFMEU to performing its proper role as a union. Every day, right across the country, we've got trade unions that are out there fighting for their members, making sure that people get paid decently, are treated with dignity at work and can go to work confident in their safety. That's what a good union does. And we've been really concerned about the allegations that have been aired publicly over the last week or so. It's important that the regulator takes this step and it's also important that they get the legal advice necessary to make sure that what they do is sound and within their powers. I will say that Minister Burke has indicated that if there are impediments to the regulator exercising their function on this question, he is willing to introduce legislation. And, you know, to that extent, yes, the parliament sitting and the associated timetable is relevant to that.

JENNET: Amounts to a deadline in effect, I guess. But I guess you can't answer, nor can anyone, exactly how long it might take the regulator, Jenny McAllister, will wrap it up there then, and no doubt talk again soon. Thanks so much.

MCALLISTER: Thank you, Greg.