Committee Hearing Observation!!

On Thursday 9th August, Alex Krajcer, Sarah Clifton and I ttravelled to Canberra for an educational visit to sit in on a public parliamentary committee hearing and witness the world of politics first hand. With a much more broaden knowledge and vested interest in the proceedings of parliament, than when I last came to Canberra for a year nine excursion, I felt positive about visiting our Nations capital.

For those of my readers who are unsure what a parliamentary committee hearing is and why parliamentary committee’s are important I will briefly outline it for you now. A parliamentary committee is made up of members or senators appointed by one or both Houses of Parliament to undertake specific tasks on behalf of parliament. Groups can be made up of both government and non-government members and wield considerable power investigating specific matters of policy or government administration or performance. Parliamentary committees are one form of device the House uses to check on the activities of the Government. Committees have the power to call the government or public service to account for their actions and ask them to explain or justify administrative decisions.

The public hearing was a House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry and Resources specially focused on the development of the non-fossil fuel energy industry in Australia with specific reference to renewable energy sector: solar, wave, tidal, geothermal, wind and hydrogen. The speakers discussed the development of these sectors and their prospects for economically viable electricity generation, storage and transmission.

With global warming becoming such a pressing issue in our society, it was nice to know that the government has jumped on the bandwagon and decided to put the issue of climate change on their agenda. Its comforting to know that the government is responding and paying attention to the widespread concern not only in Australia but throughout the world about the danger of global carbon emission and damaging effects it’s having on global warming and consequently the future of our world. I was also really interested to gain an in-depth insight into the alternative sources of energy that we play a significant part in the future of the Australian energy market.

Mr Steve Hollis, CEO of Lloyd Energy Systems Pty Ltd discussed state of the art of solar energy worldwide and how, with the use of storage technologies the future of solar energy in Australia is foreseeable. He explained the different types of renewable energy systems available and the costs and success of each of these in relation to the current systems in place. Mr Hollis also explained the system that Lloyd Energy System had implemented in rural Australia, which he perceives to be one of the most triumphant options available at present.

Like always the question of money was regularly asked throughout the hearing. Mr. Hollis had to continue to ensure the committee that the costs of the new systems available would be addressed at the end of the presentation, however firstly he was trying to explain the different alternatives and their effects in the reduction of carbon emissions. It’s disappointing to know that the committee seemed more concerned with the money factor than the positive effects of these new alternatives and the benefits they could bring to future of our country for generations to come.

I never realised how many different alternatives are available and was amazed at how they are set up and how they work. I have never been properly educated about the types of renewable energy sources but the committee hearing really gave me an insight into the future of our energy market in Australia and the possibilities that are out there to help us deal with this important issue.

After watching question time and realising that it’s a lot harder than I thought for the Australian public to witness politics in its natural form, free from public relation stunts, vested interests and media spin, I couldn’t help feeling skeptical about the committee hearing. Maybe it was staged to please the masses with the federal election looming and the pressing issue of climate change? Maybe the government wanted to escape the media limelight in relation to their plans in dealing with climate change? Maybe it was a publicity stunt to convince the public that the issue is on the government’s agenda? I’m not sure if any of the above reasons are true or if I’m just being cynical and I suppose I will never find the answers but this is a serious issue that needs to be thoroughly addressed. The government is such a powerful body that has the financial backing and resources to investigate this issue and find alternative solutions to reduce our carbon emissions, and hopefully decrease the effects to global warming…. if its not too late!!