On behalf of Mr Jihad Dib: In reply: I thank members for their contributions to debate on the Energy Legislation Amendment Bill 2025. I thank the member for Manly for his constructive engagement on the bill. I do not agree with his comments around progress, because the Government is getting on with the task of working with communities and building this infrastructure. I acknowledge the member for Campbelltown, the member for Penrith, the member for Granville and the member for Newtown. I will even acknowledge the shouty member for Bathurst, who I encourage to work with and unite his community and maximise the benefits for them, rather than sowing division and disinformation. The Central‑West Orana Renewable Energy Zone [REZ] has not tripled in size. I again encourage him to work with us for regional communities and to not lean into nasty politics. It does regional communities a disservice. I also acknowledge the member for Leppington and the constructive member for Wagga Wagga.
I acknowledge the member for Northern Tablelands, who is in the Chamber, and his calm and heartfelt contribution on behalf of his community. I appreciate, personally, professionally and politically, the concerns that he raised on behalf of his constituents. This House is the place to put those concerns on the table, and we are listening. I acknowledge the member for Upper Hunter for his contribution. I thank the member for Orange for his fair and constructive views and suggestions around community benefits. I acknowledge the member for Goulburn. I hear her concerns and assure her that we are listening. The Premier is so busy because he is on the ground listening, and he understands those challenges. I encourage the member to continue putting forward those concerns and suggestions around consultation, as she always does, on behalf of her community.
As I outlined in the second reading speech, this bill makes a series of targeted, practical reforms across key energy legislation to support delivery of the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap and to strengthen fairness for consumers and communities. It supports delivery of the road map by streamlining the authorisation process for renewable energy zones, improving how new networks connect to the grid, and putting in place a clear framework for managing system strength so the grid stays stable and secure as more renewables come online. It delivers greater benefits for regional communities by expanding eligibility for community benefit programs, ensuring that more people share in the rewards of hosting new energy infrastructure.
The bill strengthens fairness and consumer protections by improving safeguards for households in embedded networks and guaranteeing that families with rooftop solar will never be charged for exporting their clean energy to the grid. Those measures make sure the rules work for consumers, not against them. They will deliver a range of administrative tidy-ups so that the rollout of the road map keeps pace with the scale and urgency of the energy transformation. The sensible, balanced reforms will help deliver new generation storage and transmission on time and at least cost. They support the regions that are hosting new infrastructure and ensure fairness for households across New South Wales. This bill is about getting on with the job of building the energy system that we need, protecting consumers and creating opportunities for workers and communities in the process.
As the State's ageing coal-fired power stations are retired, these reforms will help bring forward the new generation storage and transmission capacity that will keep the lights on and our economy strong. I acknowledge the constructive contributions made by most members across the Chamber in debating the bill. I also understand that all members, regardless of what they might have said, have committed to supporting the bill, which will ensure that New South Wales remains on track to deliver a clean, reliable and affordable energy future.
I thank the staff at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water for their extensive work in developing the bill. The exceptional staff of the Minister's office, who are in the Chamber, also deserve a shout-out. I thank them for their dedication, hard work and support to ensure that the bill came before the House. I also acknowledge EnergyCo, AusEnergy Services Ltd and the Australian Energy Regulator for the contribution of their staff to the development of the bill, and the many stakeholders across the renewable energy, consumer and community sectors who engaged constructively throughout the bill's consultation. The bill reflects the strength of collaboration across government, industry and communities as we deliver the next phase of the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap. That ambitious but necessary plan will secure reliable, affordable and clean energy for New South Wales, while ensuring that regional communities share in the benefits of the energy transition. I commend the bill to the House.
