Emissions reduction would no longer be an objective of Australia’s energy operator under a Coalition plan endorsed by the Nationals and Liberals, prioritising affordability and reliability over climate.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley unveiled the Coalition’s policy on Sunday afternoon alongside her shadow energy and climate change minister Dan Tehan, and Nationals leader David Littleproud.
Unlocking gas supply was central to the plan, but Ms Ley has left the door open to new coal-fired power stations as a source of base-load energy to back up renewables in the electricity grid.
Earlier, the ABC revealed the full details of the Coalition’s policy outlined in a leaked policy submission document that was presented to a virtual joint party room meeting for sign-off.
At this meeting, multiple moderate Liberals raised concerns about the potential for taxpayer funds being used to underwrite or support new coal power projects, but when asked about this, Mr Tehan said the Coalition had always agreed to take a “technology-neutral approach”.
The Liberal Party’s Dan Tehan, Jonathon Duniam and Anne Ruston negotiated a joint Coalition position with the Nationals. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore)
After several days of talks between the Nationals and Liberals, the Coalition has settled on a range of policy positions, including ditching net zero and stripping Labor’s 2030 target of 43 per cent emissions reduction from legislation.
Ms Ley said affordability would be at the heart of the Coalition’s plan, though she did not outline when or by how much power bills would be reduced if the party was elected to government.
“Consumers can be absolutely confident that once we have charge of energy policy in this country, we will start to change the rules as soon as possible,”
she said.
“That means we have to change rules around the supply of gas and the operating rules of the energy system, and we can see from that point on how downward pressure will be placed on energy prices.”
Ms Ley said the Coalition would not set emissions reduction targets from opposition, and instead “look at” its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement once elected.
The ABC was first to report that the Coalition planned to move an amendment at the first meeting of the national cabinet with states and territories to strip emissions reduction as a national electricity objective for the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).
Instead, the Coalition wants to “ensure that the focus of our energy market is in the long-term interests of consumers with respect to price, quality, safety, reliability and security of supply”.
According to the policy submission, this would mean AEMO “plans the design of the electricity grid around delivering a least-cost energy system for consumers, not a system designed to meet political targets”.
Ms Ley questioned why any prime minister wouldn’t prioritise affordability.
David Littleproud says the Nationals are not against renewables but believes Australia should…
Read More: Coalition plans to strip climate from energy operator’s objectives
