Angus Taylor has vowed to repeal a raft of emissions reduction and renewable energy policies, including several measures supported by or introduced under past Coalition governments, within a month of being elected prime minister, prompting accusations he would “let climate change rip”. On Wednesday, Taylor’s energy spokesperson, Dan Tehan, announced a new bill would be introduced to parliament within 30 days after a Coalition win at the next federal election to ensure affordable, reliable and secure energy to Australians. The bill, which contains a package of eight previously announced opposition policies, would remove safeguard mechanism and nuclear prohibitions, both introduced by previous Coalition governments.
Remove the legislated net zero by 2050 target. Revoke four of six offshore wind energy zones due for completion by the late 2030s: the Hunter, Illawarra, Southern Ocean and Bunbury regions. Introduce a renewable energy code of conduct for developers.
Require energy funding provided to states and territories prioritises energy affordability and reliability. Change the Australian Energy Regulator’s main focus to affordability and reliability. That is fine, and that is great.” The energy minister, Chris Bowen, said the plan would take a “chainsaw to the economy and household budgets” and “make Australia poorer, weaker and less secure from global shocks”.
Bowen said the Coalition’s plan to “stop renewables and household batteries” and extend the life of existing coal power stations would mean households would be “left to pick up the bill of global shocks”. The energy policy reversal was similarly criticised by Kooyong MP, Monique Ryan, and acting Greens leader, Mehreen Faruqi, for taking the country backwards. Faruqi also took aim at Labor after its resources minister, Madeleine King, marked the opening of the Beetaloo basin with smiles.
Environment groups have condemned the Coalition’s announcement, with the Australian Conservation Foundation’s head of political advocacy, Gavan McFadzean, saying Australians deserved better. It’s deadly negligence that would leave Australians facing more fires, floods and heatwaves,” she said. Harden sheep and crop farmer and FCA spokesperson Peter Holding, said giving up on pollution reduction was crazy.
You can’t say you’re looking after farmers while you axe pollution reduction policies, when we know more pollution means more fires and droughts, more climate change, and higher insurance costs,” he said.
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