Interview with Ash Gillon, News24 Politics Now

ASHLEIGH GILLON (HOST): Joining us live now, the Assistant Climate Change and Energy Minister, Josh Wilson. Thank you for your time. Recently, we saw the High Court ruling that planning authorities in New South Wales need to consider the climate impacts of exported coal burnt overseas. But when it comes to individual businesses here in Australia considering their overseas emissions, we've heard from business groups, the coalition today, saying your regulations are making businesses report on emissions that they can't control, using data they say that can often not be accessed at, of course, a cost to the business. Why is that really necessary?

JOSH WILSON: Well, good to be with you, Ash. I mean, the reality is quite different from the way that the coalition would like to present it, industry groups support the sensible application of disclosure rules that are becoming the international standard. That is what we need in order to enable Australian businesses to trade successfully with the world. Of course, that in turn is good for our economy. It's good for jobs. It's good for inbound investment and all of those things. So, you know, I think Australians would understand. They might be getting a little bit sick of the sort of the ongoing catastrophisation or scaremongering about anything that happens to have the word climate in it. This is certainly a case for that kind of behaviour. We are not going to be knocked off course by that sort of self-interested approach. We're going to continue to support Australian businesses, making sure that they are doing the kinds of sensible reporting and disclosure that is fast becoming the norm. Certainly, the norm in the EU and with many of our trading partners. While at the same time, we take steps to reduce compliance obligations to the tune of some $10 billion. That's the responsible thing, and we're going to stick to that.

GILLON: We've seen in Question Time this week the coalition attacking the government, particularly on hurting small business, the Shadow Treasurer, Tim Wilson, in his statement today, said those reporting requirements are just another example of these. And in fact, the example he used when it comes to these Scope Three reports was that if a local motel wanted to provide rooms to a corporate, he says they shouldn't have to hand over a Scope Three emissions report. Is that an example of overreach, or if that is really happening, is that something that the government needs to look into and reverse?

WILSON: No, it's an example of the scaremongering I just talked about. It's an example of the coalition's desperation to try and catastrophise anything and everything that has the word climate in it. We know, and Australians know, that tackling dangerous climate change is important for our future economic, social, and environmental well-being. We know that there's this enormous opportunity for Australia and a very, very significant comparative advantage for us when it comes to the clean energy transition part of tackling dangerous climate change. That is key to Australia's best future in the 21st century. Meanwhile, you know the coalition doesn't have any new positive ideas. It doesn't even have any new negative ideas. It simply wants to scaremonger and catastrophise about things that are frankly ridiculous. And that is an example from Tim Wilson.

GILLON: We heard from Madeleine King today about the Gas Reservation Scheme, some tinkering changes that she's looking at there. Shell is saying that this scheme could lead to market failure. Woodside saying it could reassess its drilling campaign in the Bass Strait if these changes go ahead. How confident are you that this change to the way that we reserve gas in this country will still adequately preserve the incentives for producers to develop those new reserves that we know we need as we transition to o other energy forms.

WILSON: I'm confident as a Western Australian who has lived with a successful Gas Reservation Scheme for 20 years, as you've done, Ash. The Gas Reservation Scheme that the Carpenter Gallop Government introduced in the early part of the 21st century came with some of those similar claims. Certainly, some big industry players claiming that there would never be investment again, and that it would jeopardise their operations. Those things did not come to pass. Those things did not come true. And in fact, as a contrast, the Western Australian gas market is significantly better costed, and that has resulted in significantly lower costs in Western Australia than elsewhere. Now, what we're doing nationally is taking the sensible step of making sure that Australians can have fair and reasonable access to our own resources, and I think everybody understands that. It should not be the case that Australians are forced to pay the highest international spot prices to suit the sort of the profit-making interests of gas operators, as opposed to having fair and reasonable access to gas supply, you know, resources that are essentially Australian resources, with the ultimate effect of bringing down prices for households and for Australian businesses. It's a very sensible change that we've gone about in a reasonable, structured consultative process, and we're committed to delivering it for the for the benefit of all Australians.

GILLON: It's meant to be a national scheme, as you point out, but the WA Premier has bluntly told Canberra to keep its hands off WA's scheme. As you pointed out, it's been successful in the state of Western Australia for some time. Where do the changes announced today leave WA? I see it does encourage consultation between federal and state governments, but can you reassure your fellow West Australians that WA will be left alone, exempt from the federal scheme.

WILSON: Well, I think Western Australians ought to take comfort from the fact that they've enjoyed the benefits of a Gas Reservation Scheme for some time. So, Western Australians should not have any concern. I know from the interaction that I have with businesses and people across my community that in WA we regard a Gas Reservation Scheme as one of a number of things that WA has done really well. A sensible.. [INTERRUPTED]

GILLON: So, Canberra has no plans to meddle with that?

WILSON: When you put in place a national scheme, you obviously do it with the interest that these things deliver the same kinds of harmonised or standardised benefits across the country, but there's no basis on which WA should be concerned when it has had an effective and functional reservation scheme in place for 20 years.

GILLON: I'm keen for your view on our top story today. We've been reporting the federal court has overturned a Commonwealth Heritage Order that stalled that New South Wales gold mine development in Blayney. The New South Wales Premier, Chris Minns has said Tanya Plibersek made the wrong call when she ordered that mine be blocked. Do you agree with that? Where does this leave the government? What's the next step now?

WILSON: Well, that's really for Minister Plibersek to talk about in terms of well, not Minister Plibersek now, Minister Watt, who's responsible for that decision making at the Commonwealth level. Those decisions are made on advice and they're made in accordance with the framework that applies. But you know, in a functional, healthy democracy like Australia, decisions are subject to consideration by the courts, and we respect those court processes.

GILLON:  Josh Wilson, really appreciate you making the time.