Shadow Minister claps back at O’Dowd over renewable energy cuts

Murray Watt: “The only party trying to kill off jobs in Central Queensland is the LNP.”

Queensland Labor Senator Murray Watt at Rockhampton's CFMEU office.

Shadow Minister for Queensland Resources Murray Watt has clapped back at Ken O’Dowd after he claimed the Labor Party had cost up to 1400 jobs when it voted to slash additional funding for Australian Renewable Energy Agency.

Mr O’Dowd criticised the Labor Party after it joined forces with the Greens to cut $192.5 million from ARENA.

The Senate voted against a government regulation that would allow ARENA to invest in technologies such as carbon capture and “clean” hydrogen made using gas, low-emission cars, and micro-grid pilot programs on Tuesday.

Mr Watt said Mr O’Dowd’s claims were a blatant attempt from the National Party to distract from the “circus” they caused in Canberra this week.

“The only party trying to kill off jobs in Central Queensland is the LNP,” Mr Watt said.

“CQ is sitting on a gold mine of solar, wind and hydrogen resources, which can add to our existing coal and gas strengths.

“Projects like the Renew Estate solar project in Rods Bay or the multiple Energy Estate Renewable Energy Projects will give Central Queensland good jobs, lower power prices and low cost manufacturing.

Mr Watt said the government had every opportunity to fund other technologies if it wanted too.

“But they shouldn’t be robbing Peter to pay Paul, by killing off new jobs in the renewables sector,” he said.