[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
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.
Shadow minister for finance and industrial relations Jarrod Bleijie, in a visit to Rockhampton on Thursday, criticised the State Government for âlosing controlâ of the Queensland health system.
This comes after the revelation 49 per cent of ambulance patients attending the 327-bed Rockhampton Hospital were being ârampedâ in February, which was up 29 per cent compared to the same time last year.
These patients had to wait outside the hospital or in hallways until staff were able to tend to them.
âQueensland Health is on life support,â Mr Bleijie said. Rockhampton Hospital
He said Rockhampton MP Barry OâRourke should have been âshouting from the rooftopâ in Brisbane about the issues the hospital had.
Rockhampton now has a permanent dedicated facility for the Federal Circuit Court, which will service Central Queensland and save people from having to go to Brisbane.
Premium Content
Subscriber only
The $367.2 million Rookwood Weir project reached a significant milestone on Friday, with the announcement in-river construction was underway.
Rookwood Weir is being built on the Fitzroy River, 66 kilometres southwest of Rockhampton.
Once complete, the more than 16-metre high weir would enable a transition to higher value agricultural land use and facilitate new industrial business opportunities in the region.
The 18-metre high concrete Riverslea Bridge upgrade was also nearly complete.
The upgrade would replace the existing crossing with a single 3.5-metre wide road lane, connecting the approaches to the bridge with the existing road, including passing bays at both ends, and demolishing the existing culvert crossing.