"The passage of the Climate Change Bills through the Senate provides a useful basis for business, government and the community from which to work towards Australia's ever more challenging emissions goals," Innes Willox, Chief Executive of national employer association Ai Group said today.
"Taking emissions to at least 43% below 2005 levels by 2030 and net zero by 2050 will take transformational investments in industry, power, transport and more. Making those investments requires business confidence that the basic framework of public policy will be strong and stable. These Bills will help provide that basis for investment.
"What’s useful in the Bills is not just that they provide a clear steer on national ambition. They cement strong transparency on how we're tracking. They require regular independent advice and public consultation on future targets – and we will have to adopt a 2035 target within the life of this Parliament, so that conversation begins now. And they will make government itself more coherent by aligning a swathe of existing agencies and funds with the national climate goals.
"Climate policy and our energy transition are core to economic management. They're too important to be left to vague platitudes or party room squabbles. Industry and the community need to be invited to the table. We're confident that will be the case with the laws the Senate has passed.
"The broader the support for our climate framework, the stronger the basis for investment. Passage through the Parliament is positive, but a consensus between Australia's national parties of government would be even more helpful. We hope that can emerge over time.
"These laws are not the end of the story, but the start of a new chapter in Australia's efforts on climate. Upcoming work on policies like the reformed Safeguard Mechanism, the National Energy Transformation Partnership and the transport emissions strategy will be fraught but vital. And the rollout on the ground of new investments across energy networks, industrial facilities and the vehicle fleet will be complex and often difficult.
"With global disasters and a global energy affordability crisis in the headlines, it has never been more urgent to get our climate transition more firmly underway. Today's legislation is a strong step on a long road," Mr Willox said.
Media enquiries
Tony Melville – 0419 190 347
