One of Committee for Ballarat’s Strategic Objectives is Advocacy and Accountability. In recent weeks we have been active in this space with the Federal Government and Opposition in Canberra.
The model for the Ballarat Energy Network (BEN) is evolving, with the work of AusNet / Mondo and 18 of the largest businesses and industries in and around our industrial precinct (BWEZ), progressing well. Whilst still in its early days, the results so far are very encouraging and we briefed the office of the Hon. Chris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change and Energy in Canberra recently.
In doing so, we are continuing to advocate for the development of policy that maximises Distribute Energy Resources (DER) for local generation, distribution, sharing and trading.
Minister Bowen’s office is keen to see how the BEN project can help inform government on the regulatory reform that will help overcome the barriers that currently restrict the uptake of locally generated renewable energy. Such reform will help us to achieve our vision for Ballarat to be powered by 100% locally generated renewable energy.
Central to the BEN model is building community value and social license, and both these are at the forefront of industry and government thinking, as they have the potential to slow the transition to a renewable energy economy and associated emissions reduction.
We have established credibility with the Federal Government through our work on the BEN project and whilst regulatory change is a long process, we are optimistic that local generation, storage, distribution, and trading, will be a feature of the decentralised, energy networks of the future.
Our work at the federal level recently has also included significant advocacy in collaboration with Federation University, regarding the International Student numbers for 2025 and beyond, known as the International Student Profile (ISP).
The recently announced ‘caps’ disproportionately disadvantage Federation University and if approved, will have a negative impact on our economy, the workforce and the cultural diversity of our city and region. The proposed allocation sees less than 1% of the total number of new international students in 2025 going to Federation. This is despite the fact that the University has the capacity and capability to support and accommodate at least 50% more international students in Ballarat than the cap provides.
As a dual sector University (TAFE and Higher Education), Federation is critical to the regional economy and the development of workforce across the state and beyond. Federation provides the training, skills and knowledge our region needs, along with the R&D, the innovation and the employment that contributes enormously to our regional development and prosperity.
Whilst in Canberra, we met with both the Government and the Opposition to advocate for a re-think of the cap for Federation given the implications for the region as a whole. We hope, through our collective advocacy that the Opposition, driven by Senator Sarah Henderson, will be successful in bringing about some amendments that will see a more equitable outcome for Federation University.
The continued success of both universities in our city is vital to the thriving and prosperous region we are all working towards.
Our Advocacy continues.