The Greens have strengthened their call for a radical overhaul of energy policy after new figures showing Australia is facing an emissions blowout of nearly 30 per cent beyond its 2020 targets.
Greens deputy leader Christine Milne said Australia’s energy policy was on a collision course with its climate policy and that subsidies to the fossil fuel sector should be scrapped.
“Australia can make a choice,” she said. “We can change our energy policy and the government really must address the contradiction,” Senator Milne said.
“We spend billions building coal railways, coal ports, we give billions in subsidies for fuel tax credits for example, for tax concessions for oil on the North West Shelf. We give a huge amount in terms of fringe benefits tax concessions which encourage people to drive more.”
The projected growth in emissions was “unacceptable”, Senator Milne said.
Climate Change Minister Greg Combet said the national emissions data, published today, showed pollution levels could be as high as 24 per cent above year 2000 levels, bolstering the case for the introduction of a carbon price.
“What this demonstrates is that we need a carbon price in our economy, because that’s what’s necessary to cut pollution and drive investment in clean energy technologies like solar and wind power, and also drive innovation and investment in energy efficiency,” he told ABC 24.
However, Mr Combet warned that a commitment to supply 20 per cent of Australia’s electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020 would not be enough make the necessary cuts to carbon emissions.
Senator Milne did not accept suggestions that the projected growth in emissions meant a five per cent reduction target, as advocated by the Gillard government, was more achievable than the Greens’ more ambitious target of 25-40 per cent.
She said she expected a carbon price to be legislated by the end of the year, but that it must be accompanied by “complementary measures” including the halting of fossil fuel subsidies.
