CLIMATE REPORT SHOWS ABBOTT IS RECKLESS ON RET

Mark Butler MP.

Shadow Minister for Environment
 Climate Change and Water

Date:  18 November 2014

A report released by the Climate Council today further confirms that Tony Abbott has been reckless with his plans to cut the Renewable Energy Target (RET).

With an abundance of wind and sun, Australia is perfectly placed to create clean energy and thousands of jobs, but Tony Abbott’s broken promise on the RET has created uncertainty in the renewables sector, frightening away billions in investment.

I’m proud to see that my home state of South Australia - the only state with a Renewable Energy Target - is leading the way, having already met its target and now moving to a 50 per cent target by 2025.

Sadly, we do not see the same in the Liberal-held states, with Victoria and New South Wales lagging behind.

Tony Abbott and his fellow Liberal Premiers are taking Australia backward on action to tackle climate change, while the rest of the world moves forward. This past week saw world leaders take significant action to reduce carbon pollution and call on Tony Abbott to do more.

But Tony Abbott would rather pay polluters to pollute, increase carbon pollution, increase the cost of power bills, scare away investment, and place thousands of jobs at risk.

He is not just an international embarrassment– he is reckless with investment and dangerous for our country’s future.

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 RET, Labor has ensured that renewable energy has a role in Australia.

It’s time for Tony Abbott and his shameful Liberal Premiers to step up to the plate.