Advertisement

‘We should respond to the science’: Labor declares climate change emergency but delays 2030 target

A puppet depicting Prime Minister Scott Morrison at a climate rally outside Parliament House in Canberra.

A puppet depicting Prime Minister Scott Morrison at a climate rally outside Parliament House in Canberra. Photo: AAP

Labor has declared a “climate change emergency” on the same day that Anthony Albanese confirmed his party is in no hurry to finalise a new emissions reduction target.

The Opposition Leader on Tuesday confirmed a new 2030 target will be finalised closer to the next election when the trajectory of emissions reductions at the time is clear.

Mr Albanese defended the decision on the grounds he didn’t want to let the Morrison government “off the hook” for failing to meet its targets.

“We’re not the government. News flash, we’re not the government, they are,” Mr Albanese said.

The next election is not scheduled until 2022, leaving a long timeframe to settle the policy amid a split in ALP ranks.

Frontbencher Joel Fitzgibbon has angered some colleagues by calling on the ALP to dramatically scale down Labor’s 45 per cent by 2030 target to 28 per cent.

The strategy is designed to switch the focus to the government’s failure to meet its emissions reduction targets.

Asked if he shared his colleagues’ concerns with Mr Fitzgibbon’s calls to scale back the ambitious targets, Mr Albanese sidestepped the question.

“Labor’s next emissions reduction target will be consistent with the science,” he said.

Asked what that meant, he replied: “I don’t attend faction meetings.

“I’ve said very clearly what my view is, in the positive, which is we should respond to the science, that we need to avoid dangerous climate change, that we need to ensure that we act.

“And one of the things that I want to do though, is to not let the government off the hook and say what Labor should do in three years’ time.

“Emissions are going up now. Obviously, the first chance that we have to be elected to office will be after the next election, sometime between October 2021 and March 2022, is when I expect it to be.

“That’s the window. So at that point in time, from that base, it will be much worse if the government doesn’t actually have an energy policy.”

Mr Albanese’s comments are in contrast to the opposition climate change spokesman Mark Butler and Tanya Plibersek, who slapped down Mr Fitzgibbon’s proposal last week.

On Tuesday, Mr Butler proposed a “climate change emergency” motion noting Australia’s carbon emissions are rising and that “cuts to greenhouse gas emissions need to be strengthened to avoid catastrophic climate change impacts”.

“The future is at stake – we are in a climate emergency,” Mr Butler said.

Energy Minister Angus Taylor said the “climate emergency” motion in Parliament was ridiculous.

“Labor is making a huge song and dance about declaring a climate emergency, yet refuses to commit to a single climate policy it took to the election,” Mr Taylor said.

The Prime Minister turned the attack back on Labor in question time, suggesting Mr Butler was losing the battle for the hearts and minds of his colleagues.

“He is losing the argument on that side, because on that side, they are not for responsible emissions reductions targets, which is what we take to the election,” Mr Morrison said.

“They are for reckless targets which lose people’s jobs.”

Labor MP Mike Freelander, who circulated a motion to the NSW Right that Mr Fitzgibbon does not speak for the faction on climate change policy, said he understood the need for the delay to formulating a climate change policy.

“Obviously, as time goes on it gets more difficult. We may not win the next election. I hope not, but we may need to look at other timeframes,” he told The New Daily.

“We are going to miss our Paris targets and no amount of chit chat from the government can disguise that.”

Labor also announced a backlip on the Liberals’ “big stick” energy reforms that it opposed at the last election.

As a last resort it would allow the government to force companies to divest assets. Labor agreed to back the proposals following guarantees on privatisation.

Despite supporting the amended package, opposition treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers and Mr Butler said will not stop prices rising.

“The big stick bill will do nothing to provide the policy certainty needed to support investment in clean, reliable and affordable power, which lies at the heart of the energy crisis,” Dr Chalmers said.

“As a result, power prices will continue to go up and up and up.”

Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter
Copyright © 2024 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.