Angus Taylor calls for Labor to submit to Coalition on emissions target

Angus Taylor has reiterated his calls for Labor to back the government’s climate policies, saying the opposition had to “decide whether they want to join us”.

Federal energy minister Angus Taylor claims the
government has a mandate on its climate policies.

The energy and emissions reduction minister was referring to the Coalition’s 26%-28% emissions reduction target, a policy much less ambitious than the 45% target Labor took to the election and one that is not aligned with the ultimate aim of the Paris agreement, which is to limit global heating to no more than 2C.

“We’re not lacking ambition here,” Taylor told Sky on Tuesday. “Now the key is to deliver.

“[The] crucial issue here is will Labor join us so we’ve got bipartisanship on this? It will make a huge difference.”

Read the story from The Guardian by Lisa Cox - “Angus Taylor calls for Labor to submit to Coalition on emissions target.”

Agreement on RET target, but energy sources debate goes on

T

he Federal Government and Opposition have reached agreement on a revised Renewable Energy Target (RET), but remain at odds over the energy sources to be included.

The major parties have agreed to cut the target to 33,000 gigawatt hours (GWh), but Labor is objecting to the Government's push to include native wood burning.

The Government and Opposition have been negotiating for months over a cut to the original 41,000 GWh target, which the Coalition wanted reduced to reflect lower overall energy use.

Read the ABC story - “Renewable Energy Target: Government, Opposition reach 'in-principle' deal on 33,000 gigawatt hours”.