Coalition embraces economic vandalism with worst possible energy policy

When I saw the government’s latest energy policy proposal, I was disappointed but not surprised.

The energy minister, Angus Taylor, with the prime
minister. The new energy policy allows the
redevelopment of existing projects to extend
their life.

Just a few weeks ago I was speaking with a few utilities analysts and players, wargaming the absolute worst thing a party with just a few months to live could do to Australia’s energy policy and how far they could roll back some commendable progress to date.

What we came up with revolved around the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission recommendations. They were very sensible but we figured they had substantial scope for selective and perverse implementation. At one point, we joked about the possibility that this good advice could be turned into a policy to subsidise companies that own coal plants and coal.

Turns out that is exactly what has happened.

Read the story from The Guardian by Alex Turnbull - “Coalition embraces economic vandalism with worst possible energy policy.”

Shift in attitude - Sarah Barker

Minter Ellison special counsel Sarah Barker will be speaking at Shepparton’s La Trobe University about climate change thanks to Slap Tomorrow.

Special speaker: Minter Ellison special counsel
 Sarah Barker will talk about climate change at
 Shepparton’s La Trobe University today.

Ms Barker has two decades of experience advising Australian and multi-national clients on governance, compliance, misleading disclosure and competition law issues.

Her expertise in the environmental, social, governance field in financial services and investment, and its relationship to fiduciary duties, is internationally recognised by organisations, such as the Bank of England and European Union.

As a lawyer at Minter Ellison, one of the largest practices in the Asia Pacific, Ms Barker is aware of the shifts corporations and large investors have experienced in the financial market’s attitude towards climate change.

‘‘Markets now see climate change as a financial risk rather than environmental,’’ she said.

Ms Barker said markets had seen people’s attitudes to climate change shift, so they had shifted their views and were looking at what they could do to combat climate change.

‘‘We really, really need to understand the shifts that have occurred internationally, so we are not left behind,’’ she said.

‘‘If internationally financial markets believe it, then business has to respond.’’

Ms Barker said countries in the European Union stopped debating climate change 20 years ago, but in some ways Australia had remained on the fence.

Ms Barker said coming to Shepparton would help her learn more about what businesses were thinking about climate change and her talk would discuss how businesses could become involved in the changing world of business.

‘‘The impact on each individual business is always going to be unique to each business,’’ she said. ● Sarah Barker will speak at La Trobe University, North St, Shepparton tonight at 6 pm. This event is free to attend there will be a light supper. For more information, phone 0400 502 199.

Story by Sionnie Kelly in today’s Shepparton News - “Shift in attitude.”