MINISTERIAL STATEMENT: Community Climate Action

Hon. MAJ SCANLON (Gaven—ALP) (Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef
and Minister for Science and Youth Affairs) (10.43 am):

Our Labor government is delivering cheaper and cleaner energy for all Queenslanders, while reducing our emissions. Through initiatives such as those just laid out by the energy minister and our $2 billion Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund, the Land Restoration Fund and renewable energy zones, we are taking big steps to decarbonise our economy. However, we know that communities are passionate about climate change and want to take action at a local level as well.

Last week I announced close to 40 local groups throughout Queensland will now share in over
$1 million to kickstart local small-scale climate projects. Those projects are all aimed at addressing
climate change and driving down power bills. With this funding, groups are installing renewable energy
systems such as solar panels and battery storage, purchasing energy-efficient hot-water systems or
whitegoods and replacing lighting with energy-efficient alternatives.

Recently in Ashgrove I joined the member for Cooper and one of her local groups, Communify,
which is doing just that. Their commercial kitchen is used to store and make meals for vulnerable
Queenslanders. A grant of $34,000 will enable them to purchase energy-efficient appliances, which will
be installed with the help of local sparkies, to drive down their energy bills and reach their ambition to
become net zero. It is a model they hope to roll out across the 18 other spaces that Communify
manages.

Beyond the climate benefits, our Community Climate Action grants will support close to 70 jobs
across Queensland, from installing solar and battery storage at the Cairns BMX Club through to
installing renewable PV systems at Ekibin community child care, at the Ukrainian club in the electorate
of the member for Greenslopes and at community housing in Redcliffe. Alongside this initiative, our
most recent budget committed almost $33 million to enhance our internal climate capacity as well as
deliver more funding for community climate action, so watch this space. Those organisations do great
work in our communities and I am proud that we can support them to do great work for our environment
as well.