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| Coalition's energy policy is here, now for the sell – politics live | Coalition's energy policy is here, now for the sell – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 11.29pm BST | |
| 23:29 | |
| But Labor is not happy with what they are hearing. Opposition energy spokesman, Mark Butler, who was forced to walk back from his Sunday comments (essentially that dumping the CET was a deal breaker for Labor) yesterday, today says the government has turned its back on the recommendations of the chief scientist | |
| “We will wait and see what the detail is. All we have had leaked out to newspapers this morning is a clear suggestion that the Government will restrict the growth of renewable energy to as little as 28% and maybe as much as something in the mid-30% range over three decades. There is no way Australia is going to be able to discharge its commitments to the medium term to 2030 around emissions reduction but also to get to a position of net zero emissions by the middle of the century. It will destroy investment in renewable energy and destroy the thousands of jobs that industry currently employs,” he said. | |
| “...Labor’s position is clear. Australia should have at least 50% of its electricity delivered by renewable energy by 2030. We have said there are a range of mechanisms that can deliver that outcome. Initially we were in support of an emissions intensity scheme, as was the Government until September last year. It was a position supported by all of the electricity agencies but vetoed by Tony Abbott in December last year. We have said a 50% renewable energy position can be delivered by a Clean Energy Target, a consensus position up until last night when Malcolm Turnbull turned his back on his own chief scientist in favour of Tony Abbott’s veto.” | |
| 11.23pm BST | |
| 23:23 | |
| The government has managed to please some with its energy policy. | |
| Good to see the Gov plans to scrap RET & CET like One Nation has been suggesting. About time they joined us in the 21st century. -PH #auspol | |
| 11.22pm BST | |
| 23:22 | |
| Don’t forget the Essential poll came out today. | |
| Katharine Murphy has written a comprehensive report on the latest findings, but just on the former prime minister: | |
| With Tony Abbott spending the past several months front running the government’s energy debate, and leading the opposition to the Finkel recommendation, 42% think the former prime minister should resign from parliament (down 1% from April), while 30% think he should stay in parliament in some capacity (down 2%). | |
| Liberal/National voters were more likely to think Tony Abbott should stay in parliament (38%) than Labor voters (27%) and Greens voters (17%). | |
| Labor is still in front in the new poll, leading the Coalition on the two-party preferred measure 52% to 48%, but that is an improvement on the government’s fortunes from a week ago, where Labor led 54% to 46%. | |
| 11.15pm BST | |
| 23:15 | |
| James Shipton has been announced as the new chief of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission by Kelly O’Dwyer. | |
| From O’Dwyer’s statement: | |
| “He is currently the Executive Director of the Program on International Financial Systems at Harvard Law School. From 2013 to 2016 he was the Executive Director, Intermediaries Supervision and Licensing Division at the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission. Prior to that he had extensive experience in various roles in investment banking in Asia and Europe and commenced his professional career as a solicitor in Australia. | |
| I look forward to Mr Shipton making a significant contribution to the important work of ASIC in promoting confidence in Australia’s financial system and protecting consumer interests as the incoming Chair. | |
| I would also like to express my appreciation to Mr Greg Medcraft for his commitment over the past years to ASIC both as the Chair and as a member. | |
| Mr Medcraft has overseen significant changes in ASIC’s role during his tenure, including reforms to improve the quality of financial advice and financial literacy, and the establishment of a national business names register. | |
| Mr Peter Kell, the current Deputy Chair, will be the Acting Chair from the time Mr Medcraft’s term ends on 12 November 2017 to when Mr Shipton commences in February. | |
| 11.10pm BST | |
| 23:10 | |
| Barnaby Joyce is due to hand down an update on the Northern Australia White Paper (remember that? It was to turn the north into an “economic powerhouse”?) and Labor’s Jason Clare has had some thoughts: | |
| Two and a half years ago they announced the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility. Two and a half years on bugger all has happened. No money has been allocated to infrastructure projects and no jobs have been created. It’s just a great example of a government which talks a big game and doesn’t deliver. Today when Barnaby Joyce comes into the Parliament to give an update to the Australian people on their Northern Australia plans he needs to explain what the hold-up is.” | |
| Joyce took over the portfolio when Matt Canavan stepped down from the ministry during the citizenship kerfuffle. | |
| 11.06pm BST | |
| 23:06 | |
| The Greens leader Richard Di Natale was not mincing words in his response. | |
| This represents the complete capitulation of Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership. This is a man who said he wasn’t going to lead a party [that wasn’t] as committed to climate change as he was and he is now leading the most pro-coal, anti-renewable government in the nation’s history. This is a complete failure of leadership. Malcolm Turnbull has shown himself to be a hallow and cowardly prime minister. When he had an opportunity to stand up and lead, and take a stand against those dinosaurs inside his own backbench, instead he has gone to water and he is now going against where the rest of the world is going on this. This is a disgraceful capitulation from a weak and hollow prime minister.” | |
| Di Natale said “Malcolm Turnbull is prime minister in name only” and was being held hostage by the right wing of his party. | |
| “Malcolm Turnbull has done what Donald Trump has done, he just hasn’t done it as extravagantly. He has effectively pulled out of the Paris agreement. We can’t achieve those Paris reduction targets based on this plan.” | |
| 10.56pm BST | 10.56pm BST |
| 22:56 | 22:56 |
| Steve Ciobo has also been put out to sell, sell, sell. Speaking to Sky News this morning, he was explaining why renewables on their own were not the answer. | Steve Ciobo has also been put out to sell, sell, sell. Speaking to Sky News this morning, he was explaining why renewables on their own were not the answer. |
| You can’t build an energy policy, you can’t build a country, you can’t build manufacturing, you can’t build reliable energy supply off intermittent power. When the sun’s not shining, what do you do? The key about this approach that the Coalition is putting forward, is if you actually get a commercial approach, which says let’s use solar and batteries for example, if the use of solar and batteries which means it then becomes reliable is put in the market, and that is of course cheaper and more cost effective than burning coal, or burning gas, well then that approach will be adopted by energy retailers. | You can’t build an energy policy, you can’t build a country, you can’t build manufacturing, you can’t build reliable energy supply off intermittent power. When the sun’s not shining, what do you do? The key about this approach that the Coalition is putting forward, is if you actually get a commercial approach, which says let’s use solar and batteries for example, if the use of solar and batteries which means it then becomes reliable is put in the market, and that is of course cheaper and more cost effective than burning coal, or burning gas, well then that approach will be adopted by energy retailers. |
| 10.46pm BST | 10.46pm BST |
| 22:46 | 22:46 |
| Of course, everyone is still waiting on the judgement from the high court, sitting as the court of disputed returns. | Of course, everyone is still waiting on the judgement from the high court, sitting as the court of disputed returns. |
| There is still no word on when that decision will be handed down. | There is still no word on when that decision will be handed down. |
| 10.39pm BST | 10.39pm BST |
| 22:39 | 22:39 |
| Julie Bishop has released a statement welcoming Australia’s election to the UNHRC. | Julie Bishop has released a statement welcoming Australia’s election to the UNHRC. |
| “Australia will take its seat on 1 January 2018 and is ready to work closely with other countries and civil society to protect and advance human rights around the world. It is in our national interest to shape the work of the Council and uphold the international rules-based order. Respecting fundamental human rights and freedoms, and building them into the fabric of a society, makes Australia and the world safer and more secure. | “Australia will take its seat on 1 January 2018 and is ready to work closely with other countries and civil society to protect and advance human rights around the world. It is in our national interest to shape the work of the Council and uphold the international rules-based order. Respecting fundamental human rights and freedoms, and building them into the fabric of a society, makes Australia and the world safer and more secure. |
| We will bring to the Council the same principled, pragmatic and consultative approach that distinguished our term on the UN Security Council in 2013-14. Australia will provide a unique Indo-Pacific perspective and ensure that the voices of our Pacific neighbours and other small states are heard. | We will bring to the Council the same principled, pragmatic and consultative approach that distinguished our term on the UN Security Council in 2013-14. Australia will provide a unique Indo-Pacific perspective and ensure that the voices of our Pacific neighbours and other small states are heard. |
| During our term on the Human Rights Council, we will focus on five key areas: gender equality, freedom of expression, good governance and robust democratic institutions, human rights for indigenous peoples and strong national human rights institutions. Through an emphasis on these issues, we can advance human rights in practical, sensible ways that will have far-reaching systematic effects over time. | During our term on the Human Rights Council, we will focus on five key areas: gender equality, freedom of expression, good governance and robust democratic institutions, human rights for indigenous peoples and strong national human rights institutions. Through an emphasis on these issues, we can advance human rights in practical, sensible ways that will have far-reaching systematic effects over time. |
| Australia will also continue to advocate the abolition of the death penalty worldwide, freedom of religion and belief, the rights of persons with a disability and the rights of LGBTI communities.” | Australia will also continue to advocate the abolition of the death penalty worldwide, freedom of religion and belief, the rights of persons with a disability and the rights of LGBTI communities.” |
| 10.37pm BST | 10.37pm BST |
| 22:37 | 22:37 |
| After Tony Abbott’s latest gems of wisdom were dropped on 2GB yesterday, including his belief that if he was to ever come back as leader, he would have to be “drafted”, which he said was almost impossible to imagine, the leadership questions continue | After Tony Abbott’s latest gems of wisdom were dropped on 2GB yesterday, including his belief that if he was to ever come back as leader, he would have to be “drafted”, which he said was almost impossible to imagine, the leadership questions continue |
| Does Tony Abbott want his job back. Craig Kelly: "Malcolm Turnbull is our PM ... it's silly to try and rule anything out" #auspol | Does Tony Abbott want his job back. Craig Kelly: "Malcolm Turnbull is our PM ... it's silly to try and rule anything out" #auspol |
| So. Clear as mud. But Abbott also showed his trademark cunning in yesterday’s interview, where he opined that the Coalition’s energy policy should not be “rushed” through the party room. The government wants the framework agreed upon, and the details, we imagine, will come later. Abbott knows details tends to be where the devil dwells. | So. Clear as mud. But Abbott also showed his trademark cunning in yesterday’s interview, where he opined that the Coalition’s energy policy should not be “rushed” through the party room. The government wants the framework agreed upon, and the details, we imagine, will come later. Abbott knows details tends to be where the devil dwells. |
| 10.33pm BST | 10.33pm BST |
| 22:33 | 22:33 |
| Labor has started the day on the run | Labor has started the day on the run |
| 10.32pm BST | 10.32pm BST |
| 22:32 | 22:32 |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.42pm BST | at 10.42pm BST |
| 10.30pm BST | 10.30pm BST |
| 22:30 | 22:30 |
| Craig Kelly, who heads the government’s backbench energy committee, has been hitting the airwaves since first light and he has many opinions on what his side of the fence is planning on doing. At least broadly, planning on doing. | Craig Kelly, who heads the government’s backbench energy committee, has been hitting the airwaves since first light and he has many opinions on what his side of the fence is planning on doing. At least broadly, planning on doing. |
| He told ABC Breakfast what the government is planning to do is even better than the Clean Energy Target and wants Labor to see the light. | He told ABC Breakfast what the government is planning to do is even better than the Clean Energy Target and wants Labor to see the light. |
| Firstly, a lot of the plan is put together by the energy Security Council, which includes the Australian Energy Market Operator. So we believe that we have a mechanism here that is superior to the clean energy target. And I am sure all of those groups, once they see the detail released by the Prime Minister today, will come on board and say this is good. That’s why I say it gets back the final missing part of the jigsaw is the Labor Party’s agreement. We need bipartisanship going forward. We hope they abandon their 50% Renewable Energy Target, come on board the Coalition and finally in this nation we can have a bipartisan policy on energy going forward which gives us the certainty we need. | Firstly, a lot of the plan is put together by the energy Security Council, which includes the Australian Energy Market Operator. So we believe that we have a mechanism here that is superior to the clean energy target. And I am sure all of those groups, once they see the detail released by the Prime Minister today, will come on board and say this is good. That’s why I say it gets back the final missing part of the jigsaw is the Labor Party’s agreement. We need bipartisanship going forward. We hope they abandon their 50% Renewable Energy Target, come on board the Coalition and finally in this nation we can have a bipartisan policy on energy going forward which gives us the certainty we need. |
| 10.18pm BST | 10.18pm BST |
| 22:18 | 22:18 |
| Everybody, welcome the NEG | Everybody, welcome the NEG |
| Katharine Murphy | Katharine Murphy |
| Good morning everyone, as Amy has mentioned, today is energy day. We will get details of the policy later on, once it has made its way through the party room, but in the meantime, here’s the outlines of what backbenchers were told by the prime minister and the energy minister last night. | Good morning everyone, as Amy has mentioned, today is energy day. We will get details of the policy later on, once it has made its way through the party room, but in the meantime, here’s the outlines of what backbenchers were told by the prime minister and the energy minister last night. |
| The new mechanism is called the national energy guarantee – or the NEG. As I flagged in the news coverage this morning, the new mechanism will contain two obligations which will be imposed on electricity retailers: a reliability obligation (meaning they will have to be able to supply mandated quantities of dispatchable energy) and an emissions reduction obligation. | The new mechanism is called the national energy guarantee – or the NEG. As I flagged in the news coverage this morning, the new mechanism will contain two obligations which will be imposed on electricity retailers: a reliability obligation (meaning they will have to be able to supply mandated quantities of dispatchable energy) and an emissions reduction obligation. |
| The NEG, according to their briefing late last night, contains a penalty regime. If retailers don’t meet the two mandated requirements (reliability and emissions reduction) within a certain period of time, they will be deregistered. | The NEG, according to their briefing late last night, contains a penalty regime. If retailers don’t meet the two mandated requirements (reliability and emissions reduction) within a certain period of time, they will be deregistered. |
| The emissions reduction target, according to the backbenchers briefing, will be a 26% reduction on 2005 levels by 2030 – which is the same as Australia’s commitment to the Paris international climate agreement, and similar to the target Alan Finkel suggested. | The emissions reduction target, according to the backbenchers briefing, will be a 26% reduction on 2005 levels by 2030 – which is the same as Australia’s commitment to the Paris international climate agreement, and similar to the target Alan Finkel suggested. |
| That trajectory will apply to the electricity sector. | That trajectory will apply to the electricity sector. |
| While backbenchers are already quibbling with that, suggesting too much too soon, if trajectory is correct, that’s a low ball target. Without confusing everyone with too much detail, think of it this way: the less the electricity sector contributes to Australia’s emissions reduction effort, the more other sectors of the economy will have to contribute if we are to meet our Paris obligations. | While backbenchers are already quibbling with that, suggesting too much too soon, if trajectory is correct, that’s a low ball target. Without confusing everyone with too much detail, think of it this way: the less the electricity sector contributes to Australia’s emissions reduction effort, the more other sectors of the economy will have to contribute if we are to meet our Paris obligations. |
| The Climate Change Authority has said that the emissions intensity of Australian electricity sector needs to come down 69% between 2015 and 2030. That’s obviously a lot more than the 26% reduction under consideration. | The Climate Change Authority has said that the emissions intensity of Australian electricity sector needs to come down 69% between 2015 and 2030. That’s obviously a lot more than the 26% reduction under consideration. |
| 10.10pm BST | 10.10pm BST |
| 22:10 | 22:10 |
| Paul Karp | Paul Karp |
| The foreign minister, Julie Bishop, has responded to Australia’s election to the United Nations human rights council, the first time Australia has been elected to the body. | |
| Bishop told Radio National the fact Australia had won 176 votes was a “very strong endorsement of the international community of Australia as a contributing member to the UN generally but specifically we are a principled and a pragmatic voice when it comes to human rights”. | |
| Bishop says Australia’s focus will be the empowerment of women, Indigenous rights, strong domestic human rights institutions, the abolition of the death penalty and human rights crises around the world including in North Korea and Syria. | Bishop says Australia’s focus will be the empowerment of women, Indigenous rights, strong domestic human rights institutions, the abolition of the death penalty and human rights crises around the world including in North Korea and Syria. |
| Asked about the human rights records of of other council members, Bishop said the council was a chance to scrutinise them and that Australia supported a US-led push to reform the council so those with “appalling records are subject to greater scrutiny”. | |
| Responding to the fact Australia’s record will be examined by the human rights committee, Bishop said it was “standard procedure” rather than Australia being “hauled” before the committee. | Responding to the fact Australia’s record will be examined by the human rights committee, Bishop said it was “standard procedure” rather than Australia being “hauled” before the committee. |
| She defended Australia’s record on treatment of asylum seekers, arguing Australia was closing detention centres and had “smashed the people-smuggling trade”. | |
| Updated | |
| at 11.28pm BST | |
| 10.08pm BST | 10.08pm BST |
| 22:08 | 22:08 |
| Good morning and happy energy day | Good morning and happy energy day |
| We hope you had a good night’s rest, because the Turnbull government has been out early laying the groundwork for its energy policy to end all energy policies. At least it hopes so. | |
| After claiming ownership of the issue, Malcolm Turnbull promised a solution. So far we have the basic framework for that decision – the clean energy target is reportedly out, but we’ll still have Paris. More coming, imminently, on that. | |
| In other news, Australia won its seat on the United Nations human rights council but, rather awkwardly, a coalition of non-government organisations are also presenting a report on some of Australia’s human rights failings, including the nation’s treatment of Indigenous people and asylum seekers, in Geneva. | |
| But it’s all energy, all the time, with Turnbull government ministers about to give the Energy Bunny a lesson in endurance as they prepare to battle not only Labor, but also their own party room. And that’s before they even start with voters. | |
| Mike Bowers is back with us today, so make sure you get in touch with him at @mpbowers or take a look behind the scenes here. You can reach me in the comments, or more directly, on Twitter at @amyremeikis | |
| Will we reach the heights of yesterday? Only time will tell. Grab that coffee and we shall begin. | |
| Updated | |
| at 11.32pm BST |