May 7, 2015
Federal LNP Member for Flynn Ken O’Dowd has joined Victorian MP Dan Tehan in urging the Coalition Federal Government to work with the Labor Party to end the stalemate over the Renewable Energy Target (RET).
Mr Tehan (Liberal) challenged the Government and Opposition last week to work together to resolve the dispute which has seen renewable energy projects left in limbo and job losses at supplier companies.
Mr O’Dowd agreed a bipartisan approach was needed.
“Both parties need to agree on an amended renewable energy target because this situation is very disruptive to industry,” Mr O’Dowd said.
“If that means raising our target slightly to satisfy all stakeholders, then that’s what we have to do. I agree with Dan Tehan 100 per cent.”
The Federal Government entered negotiations proposing an amended RET of 26,000 gigawatt hours, but Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane has since moved the goal twice to appease the Opposition and Clean Energy Council.
During the last round of negotiations, Mr Macfarlane and Environment Minister Greg Hunt backed a figure of 32,000GWh, while Opposition climate spokesman Mark Butler initially stayed firm with a figure of 33,500GWh before shifting to 33,000GWh.
“We want to keep power prices and other essential costs down while maximising jobs across Australia but unfortunately we are currently in a situation that could have the opposite effect,” Mr O’Dowd said.
“There are too many jobs at risk for us to continue as we are. This stalemate over the RET must end!”
The Federal Government’s current proposal would still see the amount of electricity produced under the RET double between 2014 and 2020 with the aim of at least 23 per cent of Australia’s energy coming from renewables.
Government and Opposition figures plan to meet in Melbourne today (Friday) in a bid to end the 18-month stand-off.
Investment in Australia’s renewable energy dropped 88 per cent last year after the Federal Government announced its review of the target.
