Doorstop interview in Wodonga, Victoria

JOURNALIST: So, tell us a little bit about, I guess, how exciting this is, to be able to turn the first sod on this project?

JOSH WILSON: It’s fantastic. We've broken the ground, and it is a ground-breaking project. It will be a green hydrogen electrolyser that's eight times larger than anything currently operating in Australia. It will mean that we save in terms of energy emissions as we take on the challenge of tackling dangerous climate change, but also we take a big step forward in making sure that Australia is part of the shift to hydrogen energy as part of achieving our potential as renewable energy superpower.

JOURNALIST: What will this bring, in terms of jobs for the area?

WILSON: Well, there's 50 jobs in the construction phase, and there'll be jobs after that. But I think the broader benefit is about the precinct and the relationships between what AGIG is doing and the off-take partners. We've heard today about the symbiotic advantages with the wastewater treatment plant, the potential for there to be education opportunities in this emerging space, and obviously it will be key to decarbonisation efforts in what is already a significant manufacturing community.

JOURNALIST: Do you think this could be sort of a pilot, if you like, in terms of that circular economy for other projects like this across the country?

WILSON: Absolutely. The Albanese Government is supporting this kind of project, for the benefits that it brings in itself, but more particularly for what it pioneers. And we know that there's potential when you get green hydrogen to provide green energy, lower emissions, cheaper and more self-sufficient and resilient energy for Australian communities, but also just to keep us on that path and allow us to be a leading participant in that global energy transition. We know hydrogen will be a big part of it, because hydrogen helps us to capture store and transport renewable energy.