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May I acknowledge the traditional owners where the conference is being held, as well as the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, where I'm filming from today, and I'd like to pay my respects to Elders past and present. I'm so sorry that I couldn't join you in person and be part of that dialogue that will shape the future of Gippsland's renewable energy zone. Climate change may be a global challenge, but the impacts are felt locally. We see this in the extreme heat and wildfires in Europe, and in more frequent and severe weather events closer to home. The Climate Change Authority's mandate is to help Australia define and meet our national emissions reduction goals. But we understand that Australia's success will largely be determined on the ground in regions like yours, where we can secure the prosperity of future generations by creating new jobs, new investment and new industries. Gippsland has all the ingredients needed to flourish. For generations this region has helped power Australia's economy, building deep expertise in energy production, engineering and major industrial projects. Today that same capability positions Gippsland at the forefront of Australia's next energy chapter. The opportunity is significant. The declared offshore wind area off Gippsland has an estimated generation potential of up to 25 gigawatts and could support around 15,000 construction jobs and 7,500 ongoing jobs over time if projects proceed successfully. We understand that this shift is not without its challenges. Communities want confidence that local workers will have pathways in new industries. Landowners and businesses want clarity about how infrastructure will be developed and people rightly expect that the benefits of new projects will be shared fairly across the region. Communities need to see a meaningful dividend and local businesses should have every opportunity to take part in the construction, operation and maintenance of new energy infrastructure. The Authority's 2025 Annual Progress Report highlighted that renewable energy projects move faster and deliver better outcomes when local communities are genuinely engaged, share in the benefits and have confidence in the planning process. As much as we want to turbocharge the economic return, what matters just as much are improvements in social services, local infrastructure and of course housing. Lasting progress depends on people seeing value in the shift, not simply being asked to accommodate it. With the right dialogue, planning and investment, Australia can deliver the reliable, affordable and lower emissions energy that we need. In doing so, we can create an even stronger region in places like Gippsland to power our economy for generations to come and underpin prosperity in local communities for the decades ahead. I wish you productive conversations over the next two days of this conference. Good luck and thank you so much for listening.
