Both Liberal leader Sussan Ley and Nationals leader David Littleproud will oppose Labor’s newly unveiled climate targets for Australia.
Ley said the Coalition shadow cabinet just met and agreed to oppose the new policy.
“Cost and credibility are key, and as I said this morning, we will interrogate and test this announcement for cost and credibility. It fails on both counts,” Ley told reporters in Melbourne in her official response to the government’s new policy.
“It can’t be believed because the government assumes that the 2030 target [to reduce emissions by 43 percent] is in fact met, when clearly it will not be. The credibility is in tatters.”
She said there was nothing in the announcement that demonstrated to Australians how much it would cost.
“And that’s not reasonable for households, for businesses, for the hard working manufacturers in this country who want answers and are seeing their electricity bills sky rocket.”
The opposition leader also said there was a “trifecta of energy failures.”
“Costs are up, reliability is down, and emissions are flat lining. I have always said we take our responsibility seriously to play our part in reducing emissions internationally. But under this government, emissions are flat lining—28 percent when we left office, 28 percent now.”
Ley said Australians did not trust the government on energy policy or promises to cut bills.
“And now they are doubling down with another piece of glossy modelling and communications when simply these targets cannot be met. They are fantasy.”
Deputy Leader Ted O'Brien backed Ley and said there was no chance the new 2035 target would be achieved, saying Labor was already “failing” to meet its 2030 target.
“They have zero credibility whatsoever, and today’s release of information was nothing more than a word-salad of promises which again will not be kept,” he told reporters.
Nationals leader David Littleproud said the regional party would not be supporting the new targets.
“We won’t be supporting these interim targets. We won’t be legislating targets,” he said.
“What we’ll do is be responsible. What we will be is sensible and what we’ll make sure is we put Australian families and Australian business at the core of this ...”
Labor Claim Target is ‘Responsible’ And Backed by Science
On Sept. 17, Albanese said the government were acting on the advice of the Climate Change Authority.“It’s the right target to protect our environment, to protect and advance our economy and jobs and to ensure that we act in our national interest and in the interest of this and future generations.”
The report also predicted a 444 percent increase in heat related deaths in the city of Sydney if global temperatures increased by 3 degrees Celsius.
Albanese said setting a 2035 target was a compulsory part of Australia’s commitment to the Paris Agreement to stop temperatures from rising to “dangerous levels.”
The Labor government also used the targets to justify nearly $8.3 billion worth of taxpayer funding towards net zero, climate change and EV charging.
Labor Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen claimed the global shift to clean energy was the biggest economic transformation since the industrial revolution.
“If we get it right, if we make the right investments at the right time, we can grow our economy, create good jobs for Australians. And today, the Albanese government decided to seize that opportunity. ”
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government had asked Treasury to model a 65 percent target, which is within range.
“The basic top-line scenario would see our economy $2.2 trillion bigger by 2050, an extra $36,000 per person wealthier, with 5.1 million more jobs and investment up 80 per cent,” he said.
