It’s been a depressing three weeks for Australian climate policy. Abbott kills large-scale renewables On 22 October, the Abbott government announced it would seek to persuade the Senate to slash the 2020 large-scale renewable energy target (LRET) from 41,000 to 26,000 GWh. Renewables will be allowed to meet no more than 50% of new energy …
Tag: Clive Palmer
Jul 03 2014
Palmer’s $0 carbon price will achieve zero
We Australians are more confused than ever about climate policy, according to a new poll – and who can blame us? Clive Palmer’s latest announcement has confused everyone, but don’t be fooled: Palmer’s policies, like those of the major parties, won’t achieve much. Ever since his election last September, Liberal Prime Minister Tony Abbott has …
Apr 26 2014
Palmer’s revolt leaves Abbott with no climate policy
Australian coal mining billionaire politician Clive Palmer announced on Tuesday that his party’s Senators will vote against the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF), the Abbott government’s proposed replacement for the carbon price it wants to repeal. Palmer wants the promised ERF funding to be redirected to pensions, and says he is even prepared to block budget …
Oct 11 2013
Australian election reveals anti-politics attitude
Last month’s Australian federal election results (summarized here) displayed a disturbing trend toward widespread disengagement from politics. Both major parties were disappointed: Labor received its lowest vote since the Great Depression, and despite winning the election the Liberal/National Coalition saw its lowest Senate vote since World War 2. Clearly an increasing number of voters are …
Sep 15 2013
Australian election 2013 wrapup
The dust is settling after the Australian federal election last week, and I guess I must be out of touch because I am struggling to understand what voters were thinking. All election statistics in this post are from the Australian Electoral Commission unless otherwise noted. House of Representatives results In the House of Representatives, Tony …
Mar 30 2012
A dreadful week for the climate
This week’s events illustrate Australia’s rush to expand the fossil fuel industry is matched only by its rush to cut climate change and renewable energy policies. In Saturday’s Queensland state election, a major issue was coal seam gas. Both of the two major parties, Labor and the Liberal National Party (LNP), seem happy to let …
Precarious Climate
- Bendigo Climate Drawdown Summit
- The Paris Agreement was a sham anyway
- Australian election: say no to the polluting major parties
- Will Turnbull act on climate?
- Are we approaching peak stupidity?
- Is Turnbull a green Liberal?
- 2014 the warmest year as global heating speeds up
- The Trans-Pacific Partnership: the dirtiest trade deal you’ve never heard of
- Tony Abbott’s intergenerational theft
- 2014: the year that was