Mr NATHAN HAGARTY (Leppington) (11:32): I make a quick contribution in relation to the Energy Legislation Amendment Bill 2025. The purpose of the bill is to support the efficient and timely delivery of critical electricity infrastructure while strengthening fairness for consumers and communities. We know that we need to move to more renewable energy. We know that coal‑fired power stations are coming to end of life. The previous Government set us on this road; this Government is doing what it can to support the transition because it knows that lights need to be kept on and energy bills need to be lower.
Once again, we have been treated to a screed from the member for Bathurst. Normally we get a five- to 10-minute screed but this time we got 15 minutes. I like to call him "one trick Toolie" because he only has one, which is to basically try to pitch the city against the country. He likes to whip up rural voters, to try to scare them, because he has no policies and no ideas—that is why he did not get the leadership of The Nationals earlier this week. In his 15-minute screed he talked about all the bad things. Of course this process will not go perfectly. Obviously there will be some disruptions, which is why the Government has brought this bill to the House. We want to make it as smooth as possible and we want to take people on the journey. If a private enterprise wants to put in windmills or solar panels, it clearly takes a landowner to agree to that. There is support out in the regions.
Obviously, any major piece of infrastructure or development needs to meet certain standards. We heard 15 minutes from the member for the Bathurst about why the bill is so bad, but not long from now we will have an opportunity to vote. The member should put his money where his mouth is and tell us where he really stands on renewable energy, because for months he has been running out of the Chamber and voting on this side and voting on that side. His colleagues in Canberra have torn themselves apart. In a few minutes from now he will have the chance to put his money where his mouth is and tell us how he will vote on this bill. It is a good bill.
