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Coalition defends energy plan by attacking Labor's record – politics live Coalition defends energy plan by attacking Labor's record – politics live
(35 minutes later)
6.21am BST
06:21
Alan Finkel says he was consulted on the Neg at a late stage, but did not see any price modelling.
He says there is “more than one way to skin a cat” and 49 out of 50 of his recommendations” were very rapidly agreed to” and now a “different version of not the clean energy target, a different version of the orderly transition recommendation.
The clean energy target is not a headline item, it is bullet point number two of three bullet points, it is not even introduced as a clean energy target, it is introduced as the need for a credible mechanism and there are multiple ways of achieving a credible mechanism.”
So Finkel is saying he recommended a credible mechanism to transition to lower emissions–and that a clean energy target is not the only way to do that.
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06:07
The IPA has also released its thought on the Neg:
“The government’s decision to keep emissions reductions at the centre of Australia’s energy policy is a missed opportunity,” said Daniel Wild, research fellow with the free market think tank the Institute of Public Affairs.
“The government should eliminate emissions reductions as a component of Australia’s energy policy. Accounting for just 1.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions Australia makes no noticeable difference to the global climate or the global temperature.”
“The world is moving away from emissions reductions policies after seeing the destructive effect they have had on energy markets. The United States has signalled its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and so should Australia.”
“The claim that the world is moving towards renewables in a myth. There are 1,339 coal plants in operation around the world, with another 1,500 in the pipeline.”
“However, the Government’s decision not to continue with the Renewable Energy Target from 2020 and not introduce a Clean Energy Target is a sensible decision.”
“This is a middle of the road proposal that will see the Renewable Energy Target continue to operate until 2020 and keep emissions reductions at the heart of Australia’s energy policy.”
“Rather than waiting until 2020 the government should immediately abolish the Renewable Energy Target. That would be the surest way of putting downward pressure on prices and improving reliability,” said Mr. Wild.
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Chief Scientist Alan Finkel is due to speak to the media at 4.15pm. Chief scientist Alan Finkel is due to speak to the media later this afternoon.
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Labor has followed up question time with a press conference with Mark Butler.Labor has followed up question time with a press conference with Mark Butler.
“We have had confirmed in the last couple of hours that there hasn’t even been any detailed modelling about the impact on business, on households, on the energy industry itself, so we have to have some real facts around this....once we have those facts, our obligation, our commitment is to sit down with business, with the energy industry, with the state and territory governments that after all are going to be expected to implement this thing if it goes forward and start to talk to them about a way forward on energy policy.” “We have had confirmed in the last couple of hours that there hasn’t even been any detailed modelling about the impact on business, on households, on the energy industry itself, so we have to have some real facts around this ... once we have those facts, our obligation, our commitment is to sit down with business, with the energy industry, with the state and territory governments that after all are going to be expected to implement this thing if it goes forward and start to talk to them about a way forward on energy policy.”
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Gareth HutchensGareth Hutchens
And just a bit more on that 2+ hour joint party room meeting from this morning And just a bit more on that 2+ hour joint party room meeting from this morning.
The Coalition joint partyroom was held this morning.
Energy minister Josh Frydenberg gave a long presentation, complete with slides and graphs, about the government’s new energy policy.Energy minister Josh Frydenberg gave a long presentation, complete with slides and graphs, about the government’s new energy policy.
He was joined by Audrey Zibelman, the chief executive of the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), and John Pierce, the chairman of Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC).He was joined by Audrey Zibelman, the chief executive of the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), and John Pierce, the chairman of Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC).
Questions or comments were invited to Frydenberg, and where appropriate to Zibelman and Pierce.Questions or comments were invited to Frydenberg, and where appropriate to Zibelman and Pierce.
The discussion on energy went from 9am to 11.20am.The discussion on energy went from 9am to 11.20am.
Thirty MPs spoke in the discussion, and almost all of them endorsed the policy.Thirty MPs spoke in the discussion, and almost all of them endorsed the policy.
“Congratulations. Bloody brilliant”, said one MP afterwards (apparently). “Congratulations. Bloody brilliant,” said one MP afterwards (apparently).
One backbench colleague began by saying well done, and he was very happy the government was not proceeding with the Clean Energy Target. But he still had concerns about energy prices, and he suggested the government should build a coal fired power station.. One backbench colleague began by saying well done, and he was very happy the government was not proceeding with the clean energy target. But he still had concerns about energy prices, and he suggested the government should build a coal-fired power station.
He said “if it’s a choice between reducing emissions and reducing prices, where does this policy take us?” He said “If it’s a choice between reducing emissions and reducing prices, where does this policy take us?”
Malcolm Turnbull, Pierce and Zibelman addressed his concerns directly. They there were a number of reasons why policy would reduce prices but emphasised, repeatedly, that it would create certainty for investors. Malcolm Turnbull, Pierce and Zibelman addressed his concerns directly. There there were a number of reasons why policy would reduce prices but emphasised, repeatedly, that it would create certainty for investors.
A National Party backbencher also criticised the policy, saying he was concerned about its attempt to maintain fidelity to the Paris targets. He said the Paris target shouldn’t be a consideration. A National party backbencher also criticised the policy, saying he was concerned about its attempt to maintain fidelity to the Paris targets. He said the Paris target shouldn’t be a consideration.
The policy was endorsed by acclamation.The policy was endorsed by acclamation.
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Back in the House and Michelle Rowland wants to discuss the “government’s second-rate copper NBN” as the matter of public importance.Back in the House and Michelle Rowland wants to discuss the “government’s second-rate copper NBN” as the matter of public importance.
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The Victorian Council of Social Services has reacted to the Neg.The Victorian Council of Social Services has reacted to the Neg.
So about that National Energy Guarantee idea... 🔌 pic.twitter.com/gqqns8FOzpSo about that National Energy Guarantee idea... 🔌 pic.twitter.com/gqqns8FOzp
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Whatever did they do in the time before smartphones?Whatever did they do in the time before smartphones?
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We finish on a Dixer from Greg Hunt, where he gets to tell us the importance of keeping the power on in hospitals.We finish on a Dixer from Greg Hunt, where he gets to tell us the importance of keeping the power on in hospitals.
So energy, energy, energy and Malcolm Turnbull appeared to actually feel good about the day. Labor didn’t really get a strong attack line in, but expect that to change as they wrap their head around the policy and look for those cracks.So energy, energy, energy and Malcolm Turnbull appeared to actually feel good about the day. Labor didn’t really get a strong attack line in, but expect that to change as they wrap their head around the policy and look for those cracks.
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Prime minister Malcolm Turnbull decides to answer another question from Tony Burke, who wants to know about those savings (which don’t start until 2020 and on average last until 2030).Prime minister Malcolm Turnbull decides to answer another question from Tony Burke, who wants to know about those savings (which don’t start until 2020 and on average last until 2030).
“Did the Energy Security Board provide any other lower figures to the government about possible household savings?”“Did the Energy Security Board provide any other lower figures to the government about possible household savings?”
The prime minister is quite careful … “The only information I have relating to the savings are contained in the letter from the Energy Security Board that is now – that is now public document. And that provides the $110 to $115 figure.”The prime minister is quite careful … “The only information I have relating to the savings are contained in the letter from the Energy Security Board that is now – that is now public document. And that provides the $110 to $115 figure.”
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Another question for the prime minister, which is punted to the energy minister.Another question for the prime minister, which is punted to the energy minister.
It’s more of the same.It’s more of the same.
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From before Linda Burney was booted. Although, it could still make sense if someone added a question mark.From before Linda Burney was booted. Although, it could still make sense if someone added a question mark.
The opposition send a message to the PM during #qt @AmyRemeikis @GuardianAus @murpharoo #politicslive pic.twitter.com/IccCi5uw9CThe opposition send a message to the PM during #qt @AmyRemeikis @GuardianAus @murpharoo #politicslive pic.twitter.com/IccCi5uw9C