Business Sydney Online Briefing

Online briefing with The Hon. Matthew Kean MP

1 September 2021

When Matt Kean announced his aim of making NSW the equivalent to the production and export of hydrogen that the UAE is to oil, it was clear the state has a very bright future in renewable energy.

Speaking at our online briefing, Minister Kean outlined his plans for achieving the ambitious goal of making NSW the nation’s leader in clean energy and reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

The plans involve close collaboration and co-operation with energy producers and related industries, along with large investors, to ramp up production of a range of renewable technologies including solar, wind, hydrogen and pumped hydro, with a combination of all these methods to become the complete suppliers of cheap, reliable and renewable energy for our state.

The minister was keen to assure the 70 plus attendees, that the transition from coal to renewables won’t cost jobs, rather, it will actually create them. Using the latest in battery storage and other technologies, this move a low carbon future will generate the jobs of the future and put NSW in a great position to lead the world in the production and export of green hydrogen.

Federal government leadership and support will be needed for the Berejiklian government to deliver on the roadmap to a clean, green and prosperous energy future.

Minister Kean urged business to take a strong position, to speak out loudly in advocating for the Federal government to take action now on cheap reliable renewable energy and stop delaying the inevitable.

Otherwise, NSW will miss a golden opportunity to be to green hydrogen what the United Arab Emirates is to oil production and export.

the Hon. Matthew Kean MP

Minister for Energy and Environment

Matt Kean entered Parliament in 2011 and spent his early years advocating for stronger mental health policy.

Elevated to the NSW Cabinet in 2017, he was appointed Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation in 2017.

Following the 2019 NSW election, he was appointed Minister for Energy and Environment.

Since this appointment, Kean has added substantial expanses of land to the NSW National Parks’ Estate, beating and then doubling acquisition targets which will mean an extra 400,000 hectares (over five per cent) will be added by the end of 2022.

An outspoken critic of “climate denialism” he has campaigned for greater and national action on climate change, particularly in the wake of the 2019-20 bushfires.

Championing a more progressive set of energy and climate policies in the Liberal Party, he has argued that the centre of Australian politics needs to reclaim its voice in the political debate.

In 2020, he delivered the biggest renewable energy policy in Australia’s history.

The Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap: a 20-year plan for NSW’s energy infrastructure that incentivises private investment in renewable energy while simultaneously reducing emissions and lowering electricity bills for the families and businesses of NSW.

He has shown that when politicians make a concerted effort to find common ground and put aside tribal and ideological differences, real and lasting reform can be achieved.