The 2022-23 Federal Budget has missed the mark when it comes to cementing Australia's place as a global clean energy superpower.
Tonight's budget allocation towards Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), and in the trades, supports a more inclusive clean energy workforce. There is also $550 million in tax relief that electricians can use to upskill into solar rooftop and battery system design and installation, for example. Instead, the Clean Energy Council says that greater focus on the electrification of transport would critically release our shackles from fluctuating fuel costs as a result of events overseas. More significant is the proposed Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System that is aimed at supporting both employers and employees in priority occupations such as electricians. Instead, yet another Federal Budget has prioritised the fossil fuel industry when Australia's bottom line should be focused providing a better future for communities through clean, low-cost renewable energy and storage." Over the next decade, infrastructure spending that supports Australia's rapid transition to renewable energy, which is in progress right now, is critical.