Speech to Lighting Industry National Conference, Sydney, NSW

Kaya. I acknowledge the Gadigal people, the traditional owners of the land on which this conference is being held. I pay my respects to their elders past and present.

Friends, I’m sorry I can’t be there in person.

But I’m glad to send you my message of support and to thank each and every one of you for helping lift Australia’s energy performance.

The work you do touches the lives of every Australian every day – in our homes, in our workplaces, in the streets and in our community centres.

That work is now more important than ever as we seek practical and innovative ways for Australians to reduce emissions, save energy, and save money.

We know the lighting industry has always been a leader in innovation.

From LED lights to smart lighting systems and controls, lighting innovation has transformed our living spaces and work environments.

Even small changes to lighting can drive better energy performance, reduce emissions, and slash power bills.

That’s why modern lighting solutions are, without question, a tool for climate action and a tool for cost saving in our homes and in our businesses.

This conference gives us the chance to put the spotlight on lighting, not just for its utility and functional value, but as an important tool for decarbonisation and for reducing cost-of-living pressures.

Right now, we are living through and shaping one of the biggest economic transformations since the Industrial Revolution as we transition our energy system to cleaner, more reliable, and more renewable energy.

And as we do so, making sure that we achieve progress on the demand side of the energy system will be vital notwithstanding the tendency to focus on energy generation and supply.

As part of the concrete and strategic work of the Albanese Government, we now have for the first time a National Energy Performance Strategy to guide our collective efforts to manage energy demand and support achievement of our climate targets.

Last month, the Albanese Government announced Australia’s 2035 target, setting it at a range of 62 to 70 per cent emissions reduction below 2005 levels.

Now all sectors need to make a contribution in getting us to that target and to net zero by 2050, as highlighted in the six sector plans released as part of the 2035 target.

The Built Environment Sector Plan is critical in that regard because that sector contributes to 48 per cent of Australia’s scope two emissions, and five per cent of scope one.

That in turn highlights the significance of electrification and energy performance upgrades that comprise of things like energy efficient lighting and automation systems.

In just the last month, the government has announced several initiatives to support the 2035 target.

It includes a $50 million investment to back community sporting facilities to decarbonise and improve their energy performance by installing energy efficient lighting, solar and batteries.

This builds on programs like our $100 million Community Energy Upgrades Fund and our $1.1 billion Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative.

These transformative programs stimulate economic activity and support business growth by generating demand for goods and services related to energy upgrades.

Including goods and services for installing LED lighting, solar, batteries and heat pumps at facilities like pools, ovals and for more than 100,000 social housing properties.

Our focus on improving energy performance means we’re constantly finding ways to make it easier to design and assess homes that perform well.

NatHERS, the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme, is a prime example.

NatHERS has long provided trusted energy ratings for new buildings and is now being expanded to provide ratings for existing homes through a $33 million investment that was outlined in last month’s 2035 target announcement.

The new ratings underpin the Home Energy Ratings Disclosure Framework, which sets out a nationally consistent approach to implementing home energy rating disclosure schemes across Australia by the states and territories.

This establishes a framework that states and territories can apply to allow Australians to understand the energy rating of a home before they commit to buying or renting it.

Providing energy ratings information at time of sale or lease could help people choose a more comfortable and energy-efficient home that is, of course, cheaper to run.

Lighting is part of a home energy ratings assessments, and upgrades from less efficient to more efficient lights can be a cost-effective way of boosting a home’s energy rating.

We expect that the expansion of NatHERS will create a whole new market for these kinds of energy upgrades.

The NSW and Australian governments are piloting disclosure of home energy ratings to inform decisions about how we transition to mandatory disclosure of ratings at point of sale or lease.

These reforms are part of our long-term approach to improving the energy performance and reducing the carbon footprint of Australia’s built environment.

That effect is captured within the Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings – a national strategy for climate action in both the residential and the commercial building sectors.

Climate Change and Energy Ministers have recently agreed to update the trajectory to support a net zero emissions building sector by 2050.

The update will help lower costs for households and businesses and improve building comfort for all Australians.

The lighting industry will be critical to achieving the goals of the updated trajectory.

As I’ve noted, the types of products on the market and what we choose to buy and use in our homes can have a major impact on energy savings and on emissions reduction.

For example, not all LEDs are as efficient as others or provide the information on the packaging that consumers really need to make an effective and efficient lighting choice.

That’s why our Equipment Energy Efficiency – or E3 – program is so important.

It helps regulate minimum energy performance standards and labelling requirements for products like fridges, air conditioners and, of course, lights.

These standards are maintained through the GEMS Act and the government recently announced $16 million in funding to modernise the GEMS Act and update the program, which I know people in the lighting industry have been calling for some time, especially in relation to the clarity and ease of use of its administration.

This funded update will reduce emissions and deliver real bill savings by regulating a greater range of more efficient products and equipment across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.

But it will also make the system more efficient for business to use.

We look forward to working with the lightning industry and others to ensure the Act is fit for purpose, now and into the future.

Funding for GEMS and NaTHERS forms part of a broader $85 million package of new measures recently announced by the Albanese Government, including the expansion of the Commercial Building Disclosure program and the development of a demand statement of opportunity when it comes to energy performance.

In conclusion, can I take this opportunity to emphasise the value of collaboration towards achieving outcomes that work for government, industry, and the broader Australian community.

In saying that, I would like to thank the LED Technical Working Group, which was instrumental in delivering the lamp determination last year. This working group includes, amongst other members, the LCA and LCA member companies Ledvance, Beacon Lighting, Signify, and Evolt.

I also want to acknowledge and thank LCA Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Richards for his leadership and the very constructive spirit and his direct engagement with me.

These determinations will help further strengthen the availability of high-quality lighting products to the market and they will deliver energy bill savings for all consumers.

The Albanese Government looks forward to continuing to work with you to ensure the transition to the new regulatory requirements is as smooth as possible.

Friends, both the energy transition and the broader work to decarbonise enroute to net zero by 2050 is a massive and challenging endeavour that does present some amazing opportunities. It does, in my view, play to Australia’s strength as a place with an innovative and entrepreneurial, no fuss, can do culture.

Improved energy performance through high quality lighting products and services is an essential part of that endeavour and I know your industry will continue to light the way to Australia’s best future.

Again, thank you.