The stalemate over Australia’s Renewable Energy Target seems to have gone on forever – and for those who have already lost their jobs or are about to; it’s definitely been far too long.
Labor is again seeking a compromise with the Government on the RET with view to gaining some sort of stability for the industry; apparently with blessings from the Clean Energy Council.
A release issued by Opposition leader Bill Shorten and Shadow Minister for Environment, Climate Change And Water Mark Butler, extends an olive branch of sorts to the Government.
“Labor remains committed to a strong and sustainable renewable energy sector, and we remain open to further discussions with the Government,” it says. However, the document warns Labor will not agree to any policy that cripples the renewable energy industry.
Labor acknowledges the great strain the current impasse has caused to the sector.
“Investor confidence has been smashed by Tony Abbott’s decision to walk away from his previous support for renewable energy – investment in renewables has plummeted by 70 per cent since he became Prime Minister. Labor has always been prepared to work with the Government to return certainty to the sector and protect jobs.”
The RET had enjoyed bipartisan support since it was introduced in 2001.
BusinessSpectator reports the Clean Energy Council is now also prepared to compromise on its stance; stating it would consider proposals of an RET in the mid-to-high thirty thousand gigawatt-hours in 2020.
Initial indications are the Coalition will still dig its heels in, but who knows – maybe now Prime Minister Abbott has received a gift of solar panels for Kirribilli House; the Government’s position may soften. But the devil will certainly need to be very carefully watched for in the fine print detail of any deal and not just in relation to large scale renewables.
Major energy retailers such as Origin Energy and AGL Energy are reportedly keeping up their attack on small and medium scale solar; stating that all subsidies should be removed.
