THE passing of the Biofuels Amendment Bill provides security for Manildra employees at Bomaderry according to Kiama MP and Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra and South Coast Gareth Ward
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“I hope productivity expands so more jobs are required in the industry,” he said.
“Together with Shelley Hancock and Paul Green we’ve been fighting for this for five years.
“It’s good news for our area.”
In addressing the NSW Legislative Assembly Mr Ward declared at the outset the state’s largest producer of ethanol, Manildra Group, operated in his electorate.
“Regional members know how important it is to support jobs and regional development,” he said.
“We know how hard it is to attract business and industry to our communities and to ensure they survive and thrive.
“We know how important it is to secure the future of families that live in regional NSW. We know how strongly our communities feel about giving young people the opportunity to train, work and remain in regional NSW.
“I proudly support the Biofuels Amendment Bill because I support jobs in regional NSW, I support regional industry and I support ethanol, which is good for our environment.”
He said according to an independent review of the industry, nationwide ethanol production delivers 3,000 direct jobs and a further 20,000 indirect jobs.
“The industry contributes $402 million in gross domestic product every year,” he said.
“The majority of these jobs are located in regional NSW. Our community relies heavily on the jobs provided by the ethanol plant in Bomaderry.
“In addition, cities and towns across NSW are home to ethanol industry workers, including Manildra, Gunnedah and Narrandera.
“These are skilled, high-wage regional jobs that cannot be exported or outsourced. Given the huge strain on manufacturing and agriculture facing Australia it is important that we continue to support the thousands of regional jobs delivered by the ethanol industry.
“I’m confident the outcome will ensure that the thousands of jobs associated with the biofuels industry remain secure.”
Mr Ward said he was a supporter of choice at the bowser and a strong supporter of small business, particularly those mum and dad fuel-station operators who have had concerns around the costs associated with the implementation of the ethanol mandate.
“What this bill doesn’t do is force motorists to use ethanol,” he said.
“But it does protect consumers.
“It doesn’t force small service station operators to install ethanol blended fuel but provides for a regime of sensible exceptions.
“The bill is a significant package of reforms aimed at ensuring the objectives of NSW biofuels mandate are met.”
Mr Ward said he was aware of certain sections of the community opposed the biofuels mandate on the basis of market interference.
“But what these scholars conveniently ignore is the sheer levels of brazen market interference engaged in by oil companies and associated cartels,” he said.
“Of course the oil companies don’t like this product. Its very existence challenges their market by forming a component of a product they would otherwise prefer to do without.
“Why would they voluntarily supplant their sale of hydrocarbons with a cheaper agricultural waste product?
“The answer is that without incentives or compulsion they are very unlikely to do so. This is why a government mandate is required.
“If we want a sustainable and competitive biofuels market in NSW, we need a strong and enforceable mandate and if we are to have a mandate, we need regulation that protects consumers at the bowser.”
He said it was important consumers be given a choice between El0, regular unleaded and premium fuels.
“It is important that we have more transparency in the market, including real-time prices available online, and transparency on the true cost of ethanol production and it is passed through to the bowser,” he said.
“It is important we encourage a viable and competitive homegrown biofuels industry and that is what this bill seeks to do.”