Wednesday, 15 May 2024

Swinburne University of Technology

Report 2023

Sheena WATT (Northern Metropolitan) (17:28): I rise today in this place to speak on the Swinburne University of Technology 2023 annual report, and I thank the council for supplying this report and updating us on their continued strides forward to our state in higher education. Victoria has been and will continue to be the home of innovation and education, and I was delighted to see Swinburne University of Technology rise up the ranks – a significant leap forward of 100 places and into the top 250 ranked universities worldwide.

It is true to say that our government takes education seriously and we always have. It is a pillar of what makes our state a leader in technological innovation, solutions to climate challenges and energy solutions that will keep us at the forefront of the nation’s climate first options. Just this December gone Swinburne University of Technology has been named as the host of a historic partnership between France and Australia – FACET, I think that is how we are saying this acronym – the French Australian Centre for Energy Transition. In this partnership it really aims to tackle climate change and strengthen the relationship between French and Australian climate and energy academics. Universities continue to take climate action and accountability for their carbon emissions, and I commend Swinburne University for dropping its carbon emissions from a very significant 44,114 tonnes of carbon per year in 2019 to 3677 in 2023. That is a total cut to overall hard gross carbon emissions by 90 per cent through the purchase of renewable electricity and carbon offsets.

Academic institutions know that the future of energy is renewables. It is sustainable and it is fundamental to ensuring that scientific inquiry and innovation can continue to thrive over the long term without depleting or damaging our resources or the communities that rely on them. This involves fostering some practices that will not only minimise environmental impact but also promote economic viability and social equity. In 2024 Swinburne will continue participation in a public disclosure and certification program for organisational carbon neutrality, aiming to adopt these measures before 2025. They have partnered with, I think, Twynam Earth Fund to celebrate the real-world impact of its decarbonisation research. This collaboration aims to develop new ventures and marketable solutions by combining academic expertise with the fund’s focus on investing in climate-reducing technologies and supporting transformative climate companies globally.

Onto other institutions, I would like to take a moment to commend Latrobe University in the North-Eastern Metropolitan Region for funding and constructing the largest urban solar farm in their transition to net zero emissions by 2029 and welcome other universities and businesses to follow their lead in renewable technological investment. This solar farm will eliminate the equivalent emissions of the entire suburb of Kingsbury, which is a great achievement. Victorians continue to find solutions to climate, social, economic and other issues through our work with our educational leaders, supported of course by our government, and I hope that through this we can foster the minds of the future to continue to lead the country in our resilience and innovation. The future of energy here in our state is renewable, and I commend the university for collaborating in technological innovation for climate action.