[co-authors: Lilly May, Michael Kralic]
There have been a number of policy and funding developments applicable to the hydrogen energy industry in Australia since the release of K&L Gates
The H
2 Handbook in October last year. These developments have come at both commonwealth and state level and highlight the current governmental appetite to foster the emerging Australian hydrogen industry and to position Australia as a global hydrogen leader.
This article reflects on the state of play across Australia, providing a high level consolidated overview of these updates and supplementing the Australian chapter of
The H
Australian Policy Updates
New South Wales
Login Ultimate responsibility for Chinese 99-year lease of Port of Darwin rests with Scott Morrison04/05/2021|10min
Labor MP Luke Gosling says the 99-year leasing of the Port of Darwin to Chinese investors in 2015, was a result of a combination of errors , but ultimate responsibility rests with the then-Treasurer, Prime Minister Scott Morrison. It was a decision taken by the Country-Liberal Party NT government at the time in 2015. I was very critical of the decision at the time, he said. People don t quite understand the role of the Foreign Investment Review Board [FIRB], which is to provide advice to the government.
NSW) Government published the NSW Net Zero Industry and Innovation Program (
Program) as part of the NSW Net Zero Plan Stage 1: 2020-2030, which aims to achieve a 35% reduction in emissions compared to 2005 levels. AU$750 million will be invested under the Program by 2030 to help realise that aim.
The Program has three areas of focus:
Clean Technology Innovation - supporting the development of emerging clean technologies, including hydrogen. AU$195 million has been earmarked for this area.
New Low Carbon Industry Foundations - creating the foundations for low emissions industries by building infrastructure and expanding the capability of supply chains. AU$175 million in funding has been allocated for this objective.
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Australian taxpayers could face a multimillion-dollar compensation bill if the federal government forced a Chinese company to give up its ownership of the Port of Darwin.
The Sydney Morning Herald and
Defence is reviewing Landbridge’s ownership of the Port of Darwin.
Credit:Glenn Campbell
This could result in the company, owned by Chinese billionaire Ye Cheng, having to divest the strategically important asset on national security grounds under critical infrastructure laws passed in 2018.
A costing undertaken by the Parliamentary Budget Office two years ago estimated the federal government would have to pay $30 million in compensation to Landbridge if it was required to give up the port.