CLIMATE POLICIES OF MAJOR AUSTRALIAN POLITICAL PARTIES - May 2019 - CLIMATECOUNCIL.ORG.AU
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CLIMATE POLICIES OF MAJOR AUSTRALIAN POLITICAL PARTIES May 2019 CLIMATECOUNCIL.ORG.AU
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1. Introduction
This document is a summary of The Climate Council has conducted a detailed
the major political parties’ climate assessment of the current government’s
policies: The Liberal-National Party, climate performance in its report, ‘Climate
the Australian Labor Party and the Cuts, Cover-Ups and Censorship’.
Australian Greens. The policies are The period 2013-2019 is characterised by
all taken directly from each party’s slashing climate science funding, cutting
website without commentary. effective climate change programs,
rejecting the expert advice of national
and international bodies, senior ministers
publicly making misleading claims, a lack
of credible climate policy, and consistently
covering up poor performance.
The report describes how the Federal
Government has gone to extraordinary
lengths to keep the public in the dark on
climate change. Deep funding cuts and
job losses at the CSIRO have weakened
Australia’s climate science capability. As a
result, Australia is unprepared to cope with
the impacts of climate change.
The Climate Council rates the Liberal-
National Government’s climate performance
over the past five-years as the defining
leadership failure of the past decade.
For more details refer to:
Climate Cuts, Cover-Ups
and Censorship
Cover image credits: (Top) ‘Drought in Australia Farmer trying to save starving sheep - NSW - Australia - Image’ by NCAS_48, Shutterstock. (Bottom left) ‘Belrose Hazard
Reduction’ by Flickr user NSW RFS Media Services licensed under CC BY-NCND 2.0. (Bottom right) ‘Townsville Floods’ by Andrew Rankin. Australian Associated Press.
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2. Centrepiece climate
policies of the major parties
Liberal-National Party:
Climate Solutions Package
Australian Labor Party:
Climate Change Action Plan
Australian Greens:
Renew Australia 20303
3. Summary of climate policies
The following is a summary of the climate policies of the major political parties using
information sourced from their respective centrepiece policy documents (see Section 2);
it is not a comparative analysis by the Climate Council. Many of these policies are
proposals and have yet to be implemented or detailed fully.
Policy LNP ALP Greens
Emissions 26-28% by 2030 on 2005 45% on 2005 levels by 2030. 63-82% by 2030 on a
Reduction Target levels. trajectory to get emissions
to net zero by 2040.
Net zero Australia, as a signatory Net zero emissions by 2050. Net zero or net negative
emissions to the Paris Agreement Australian greenhouse gas
on climate change, has emissions by no later than
committed to reach net 2040.
zero emissions by 2050.
Renewable Large-scale renewable 50% renewables by 2030. 100% renewables by 2030.
Energy energy target: At least According to Labor, 50%
33,000 gigawatt-hours renewables by 2030 will Establish a new $500
(GWh) of Australia’s create more than 70,000 million government
electricity comes from new jobs. authority, ‘Renew Australia’.
renewable sources by 2020.
Establish an independent Rapidly deploy the next
Committed to 23.5% $5 billion Energy Security generation of energy
renewables by 2020 but and Modernisation generation and build
do not have a post-2020 Fund to modernise transmission networks so
renewable energy target. Australia’s ageing that we can open up most
energy transmission renewable rich areas for
Small-scale renewable infrastructure and enable new jobs and investment.
energy scheme provides more clean energy to feed
a financial incentive for into the grid. Opening up renewable
individuals and businesses energy zones right
to install small-scale Double the original around the country,
renewable energy systems investment in the backed by a $6 billion Grid
such as rooftop solar, solar Clean Energy Finance Transformation Fund.
water heaters and heat Corporation by $10
pumps. There is no limit on billion, supporting new Pledge support for
the amount of renewable generation and storage households and business
energy that can be across the country. to use solar and batteries
produced under the SRES. and the establishment of
Scheme expires in 2030. $2,000 rebates for solar renewable energy zones.
batteries for 100,000
households on incomes Boost Australia’s ability to
of less than $180,000 per store clean energy by 26.65
year, with a target of one Gigawatts (GW), growing to
million batteries by 2025. 30 GW in 2040. An Energy
Storage Target would be
Invest $100 million set to help meet the total
in Neighbourhood 419 GWh of dispatchable
Renewables Program to power required by 2030.
help renters and social This would be further
housing tenants to benefit enhanced by a $2.2 billion
from renewable energy. in construction funding
managed by AEMO and
Bioenergy Strategy to the Clean Energy Regulator
boost development of this over five years to contract
industry. and build energy storage at
grid level.4
Policy LNP ALP Greens
Coal No plans to phase out coal. Recognise coal plants will Phase out thermal coal by
close but no plans to phase setting a yearly limit on
The Liberal-National out coal. coal exports from 2020
Government has unveiled reducing each year until a
its short-list of 12 new No plans to review federal full-phase out in 2030.
generation investment approvals for Adani’s
projects that could be Carmichael coal mine, Each tonne of coal will
eligible for taxpayer funds although Adani must require a permit to be
and government support, “stack up environmentally secured by auction for the
including one coal upgrade and financially”. Labor do right to export coal.
for the Vales Point coal- not support public money
fired power plant. for Adani coal mine. The Australia Greens
do not support Adani’s
Issued federal Establish an independent Carmichael coal
environmental approvals Just Transition Authority mine, have called for
for the Adani Carmichael (JTA) to plan and the cancellation of
coal mine. The LNP coordinate the structural environmental approvals
proposed a $1 billion adjustment response to and do not support public
subsidy to Adani from inevitable future station money for this project.
the Northern Australia closures.
Infrastructure Facility Oppose approving new
(note: this was vetoed Require all large generators thermal coal mines.
by the Queensland to provide at least three
Government). years notice of closure. Phasing out the burning
and export of thermal coal
supported by a $1 billion
transition plan for workers.
Establish ‘Renew Australia’,
a public authority that
will lead the transition.
It will be charged to
work with communities,
energy companies and the
government to transition
our domestic and export
energy systems, map new
transition lines to open up
new Renewable Energy
Zones and ensure that coal
dependent communities
can continue to prosper.
When existing coal mines
shut down, companies will
pay their fair share for the
true cost of rehabilitation
for the clean up, returning
land to a usable state – for
housing, agriculture or
parkland.5
Policy LNP ALP Greens
Gas No plans to phase out gas. No plans to phase out Phase out of all gas
gas. Gas is considered a generation by 2030.
The Liberal-National ‘transition fuel’.
Government has unveiled No new gas – an
its short-list of 12 new Labor has pledged to immediate ban on
generation investment spend up to $1.5 billion, fracking and conventional
projects that could be through a Northern onshore and offshore gas
eligible for taxpayer funds Australia Development (and oil) fields.
and government support, Fund, unlocking gas
including five gas plants. supply in Queensland and In addition to the $200
the Northern Territory. million Clean Technology
Program, the Greens aim
to get Australia off gas by:
›› Funding a $50 million
community education
campaign targeted
at households,
encouraging them
to use reverse cycle
air conditioners as
heaters instead of their
gas heaters, which -
according to the Greens
- would cut pollution
and save consumers up
to thousands of dollars
a year.
›› Changing the Building
Code of Australia
requirements to prohibit
the installation of gas in
new developments.
Energy Through the Climate Increasing Energy Efficiency Double energy
Efficiency Solutions Package by implementing a productivity by 2030.
the LNP will provide comprehensive Energy
resources, training and Productivity and Establish a National
tools to help commercial Efficiency Review and Energy Efficiency Target
and residential building through measures like the which will place an
owners and occupiers Manufacturing Energy obligation on energy
reduce energy. Efficiency Accelerator retailers to drive energy
program, harmonising efficiency improvements
state energy efficiency across household and
schemes and allowing business.
ARENA to invest in energy
efficiency projects. National Energy Efficiency
Target will set a target of
10% for energy efficiency
Australia-wide and does
not include any other
gains that will be achieved
through other federal
incentives.6
Policy LNP ALP Greens
Clean Energy Develop a national Kickstart Australia’s Develop the Hydrogen
Exports Industry hydrogen strategy. Hydrogen Economy Economy / hydrogen
with a $1 billion plan to export infrastructure.
create new jobs, support
new businesses and A new $1.7 billion
supercharge Australia’s Clean Energy Export
renewable energy industry. Development Fund will
be created and managed
by ARENA to specifically
build Australia’s renewable
export industry up to scale
and create ‘solar fuels’
export hubs in strategic
locations around Australia.
Revise the mandate of
the Export Finance and
Insurance Corporation
to facilitate support for
the development of High
Voltage DC transmission
cables and hydrogen fuel
exports into Asia.
Agriculture Climate Solutions Fund Reducing pollution on the By abolishing the
and Land aims to reduce greenhouse land by reinvigorating the Emissions Reduction
Management gas emissions across the Carbon Farming Initiative Fund (ERF recently
economy through the to supply carbon offsets rebadged as the LNP’s
existing Emissions and reduce pollution on Climate Solutions Fund)
Reduction Fund, including the land, and taking action and re-establishing
giving farmers support to to deal with broad-scale the Carbon Farming
revegetate degraded land, land clearing. Initiative. Farmers and
improving water quality, land managers will be
reducing erosion and The agricultural sector supported to protect and
salinity, and drought will be exempt from the grow the capacity of their
proofing farms. expanded safeguard land to drawdown carbon.
mechanism.
Labor wants to see
Australia’s land sector
supply more affordable
offsets for pollution,
to reduce the cost of
abatement for business
and give farmers and
regional communities
greater economic
opportunities.
Put in place new federal
legislation to bring broad-
scale land clearing under
control.7
Policy LNP ALP Greens
Transport Develop a National Establish a national Combined with emissions
Electric Vehicle Strategy electric vehicle target of standards for vehicles that
to ensure a planned and 50% new car sales by 2030 lead up to a complete
managed transition to and introduce vehicle ban on new internal
new vehicle technology emissions standards to combustion vehicles
and infrastructure (note: reduce pollution and make by 2030.
strategy not expected the cost of driving a car
until 2020). cheaper for consumers. A 17% tax on luxury fossil
fuel cars would help cover
most costs for scrapping
registration fees, import
tariffs, GST and stamp
duty on electric vehicles,
reducing the cost
of electric vehicles
by around 20%.
Industry Liberal-National Extend the Safeguard 100% renewable energy
Government will work Mechanism to bring will be key to enabling
with industry and state down pollution from industry to drive
and territory governments Australia’s biggest down pollution in the
to improve energy polluters, in line with our manufacturing, mining
efficiency standards for international obligations, and other sectors as they
both commercial and while supporting jobs and electrify processes and
residential buildings. competitiveness. substitute clean energy for
fossil fuels.
Australia’s biggest
industrial polluters (about Increasing Australia’s
250 businesses) will be public and private
covered by Labor’s scheme. investment in research
and development to 4% by
Emission intensive 2030 will also help drive
trade exposed industries the transition.
(EITEs), such as steel,
aluminium and cement, The establishment of a
face additional barriers $250 million Green Steel
to cutting pollution while Innovation Fund within
staying competitive ARENA’s boosted budget
in global markets. In to drive down demand for
recognition of this, Labor metallurgical coal.
will provide tailored
treatment for EITEs Investing $100 million in
under the extended ARENA to support specific
safeguard mechanism. research, development and
This will ensure they face commercialisation into
comparable impacts from industrial substitution and
climate change policies electrification programs in
as their competitors do the chemical, cement and
in relevant international other manufacturing and
markets. fabrication industries.
Labor will also establish
a Strategic Industries
Taskforce and $300 million
Strategic Industries
Reserve Fund to support
these industries in finding
solutions to cut pollution
and remain competitive.8
Policy LNP ALP Greens
Price on No price on carbon. No carbon tax, carbon Restore a price on
Carbon pricing mechanism or carbon, mirroring the
raising any revenue from European price and
climate policies. driving innovation, clean
investment and emissions
reductions right across the
entire economy.
Paris Climate Reduce Australia’s Labor accepts the science Australia’s climate policy
Agreement emissions by 26-28% by of climate change and should be consistent with
2030, from 2005 levels. endorses the Paris our commitment under
Agreement to keep global the Paris Agreement to
warming well below pursue efforts to limit the
two degrees Celsius as temperature increase to
well as a more qualified 1.5°C above pre-industrial
commitment around a 1.5 levels, recognising that
degree threshold. this is essential to reduce
the risks and impacts of
Consistent with our climate change.
obligations under Paris of
keeping global warming
to well-below two degrees
above pre-industrial
levels, and informed by
independent Climate
Change Authority advice,
Labor is committed to
reducing Australia’s
pollution by 45% on 2005
levels by 2030, and to
reach net zero pollution
by 2050.
Just Transition No plan. Establish an independent $1 billion Clean Energy
for Workers Just Transition Authority Transition Fund, Renew
(JTA) to plan and Australia will be tasked
coordinate the structural with supporting workers
adjustment response to to reskill, relocate or
inevitable future station transition to retirement,
closures. The JTA will depending on what the
be a statutory body that personal circumstances
works with companies, require.
workers, unions, local
communities, state
governments and
other Commonwealth
departments to:
›› Develop and implement
transition plans for
affected regions,
including economic
diversification.
›› Develop and oversee
pooled redundancy
schemes.
›› Develop and administer
labour adjustment
packages.
Require all large generators
to provide at least three
years notice of closure.9
Policy LNP ALP Greens
Great Barrier $30 million announced for Boost clean energy and
Reef ReefHQ, an international ban new coal and gas
standard research, including stopping Adani
innovation, education coal mine. $90 million
facility. extra funding for the
Great Barrier Reef Marine
Park Authority and the
Australian Institute of
Marine Science. For
more information about
additional measures
proposed, refer to The
Greens’ ‘Protecting our
Environment’ policy
document.
Climate Restoring and Reinstate ARENA funding,
change-related reforming the Climate investing $500 million
institutions Change Authority and from July 2019, with a
implementing triennial rolling $300 million annual
Climate Change budget and allocate an
Assessments. additional $10 billion in
funding to Clean Energy
Additional $10 million to Finance Corporation.
CSIRO Climate Science
Centre. Create an independent
Environment Protection
Committed to a new Agency to oversee
Environment Act and a new environmental laws that
independent Environment will, for example, extend
Protection Agency. to the impacts from land
clearing and national
parks and reserves.10
4. Further reading
CLIMATE COUNCIL:
The Climate Council
Climate Cuts, Cover-ups and Censorship (2019)
Accessed at https://climatecouncil.org.au/resources/
climate-cuts-cover-ups-censorship.
CLIMATE POLICIES OF THE MAJOR AUSTRALIAN POLITICAL PARTIES:
Liberal-National Party
Climate Solutions Package.
Accessed at https://www.environment.gov.au/
system/files/resources/bb29bc9f-8b96-4b10-84a0-
46b7d36d5b8e/files/climate-solutions-package.pdf.
Australian Labor Party
Labor’s Climate Change Action Plan.
Accessed at https://www.alp.org.au/media/1692/
labors_climate_change_action_plan.pdf.
Australian Greens
Greens announce climate and energy election plan.
Accessed at https://adam-bandt.greensmps.org.au/articles/greens-
announce-climate-and-energy-election-plan.
Renew Australia 2030. Powering Past Coal to a Clean Future for All of Us.
Accessed at https://greens.org.au/sites/default/files/2019-03/Greens%20
2019%20Policy%20Platform%20-%20Renew%20Australia.pdf.Thank you for
supporting the
Climate Council.
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