LABOR REJECTS ABBOTT GOVERNMENT PLAN TO DESTROY RENEWABLE ENERGY
Mark Butler MP.
Shadow Minister for Environment
Climate Change and Water
Date:
12 November 2014
Labor
will protect Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET) by rejecting
Tony Abbott’s plan to cut the target by 40 per cent which will kill
thousands of jobs and billions in investment, as well as put upwards
pressure on electricity prices.
Labor
entered into discussions with the Government in a desperate attempt to
re-establish bipartisan support for the Renewable Energy Target and
protect Australia’s renewable energy industry.
Labor
believes a strong Renewable Energy Target is a critical part of
Australia’s response to climate change and transitioning our economy to a
clean energy future.
The
Renewable Energy Target has been the driving force behind billions of
dollars in investment in clean energy and delivered thousands of new
jobs in Australia.
Since
its election, the Abbott Government has undermined confidence in the
renewable energy sector, putting billions of dollars of investment and
thousands of new jobs at risk by abandoning its commitment to the RET.
The
Abbott Government has ensured that Australia is the only country in the
world to reverse action on climate change – a fact that won’t be missed
at G20 meetings in Brisbane this week.
Labor has today ensured that Australia’s Renewable Energy Target will remain in place.
After
several meetings with Government Ministers, it was clear to Labor that
the Abbott Government was committed to cutting the Renewable Energy
Target by 40 per cent, putting existing and future projects in doubt.
A
reduction of the Renewable Energy Target by 40 per cent would cost
jobs, stall investment and see Australia’s electricity prices and carbon
pollution rise.
In
discussions with the Government, Labor proposed additional support for
the aluminium industry and raised serious concerns about restrictions on
the rooftop solar industry.
Labor will continue to fight for support for the aluminium industry and a strong rooftop solar industry.
In government, Labor established a policy framework that supports the growth of renewable energy in Australia. Since 2007 -
- Renewable energy jobs tripled,
- Homes with rooftop solar panels soared from 7,400 to 1.3 million, and
- Pollution levels started to decline.
By
2013, Australia was rated one of the four most attractive places to
invest in renewable energy, alongside China, the US and Germany.
Labor
established the Australian Renewable Energy Agency and the Clean Energy
Finance Corporation, both of which Tony Abbott is seeking to abolish.
Labor will not support the abolition of either agency.
Already
Tony Abbott has abandoned his own election commitment to provide $600
million in funding for Solar Towns and Schools programs by reducing the
funding to $2.1 million and has scrapped the One Million Solar Roofs
program entirely.
Tony
Abbott has no commitment to meaningful action on climate change nor has
he any interest in transitioning the Australian economy to a clean
energy future.
By protecting the existing Renewable Energy Target, Labor has ensured that renewable energy has a role in Australia’s future.
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