Review Creates Opportunity for National Climate and Energy Strategy

The Federal Government’s Climate Change Review 2017 is an important opportunity to develop and implement an integrated national climate and energy strategy, the energy industry said today.

The Australian Energy Council’s Chief Executive, Matthew Warren, said a national climate and energy strategy is urgently needed.

“Our energy system is visibly deteriorating, as evidenced by recent events in South Australia. We are decommissioning large power stations without a plan to replace them,” he said.

“Investment in key energy infrastructure has been paralysed by a decade of energy and climate policy uncertainty. Repairing this confidence is a national priority. Australians want a reliable and affordable transition to a decarbonised energy future. It is not an unreasonable request.

“This review of national climate change policies can provide the foundation for this transformation. It is important that all sectors of the economy are set on a pathway to deliver their share of emissions reductions.

“To be effective the policy outcomes will need to be embraced by both major parties, as they will both be stewards of the transformation over the coming decades.

“This review will be measured by its ability to reverse the deterioration of the energy system, unleash appropriate investment and mop up the hodgepodge of jurisdictional targets, subsidies and schemes which are only exacerbating the uncertainty and slowing the transformation.”

About the Australian Energy Council

The Council represents 21 major electricity and downstream natural gas businesses operating in competitive wholesale and retail energy markets. These businesses collectively generate the overwhelming majority of electricity in Australia and sell gas and electricity to over 10 million homes and businesses.

Media contact             Carl Kitchen                0401 691 342