SYDNEY, Aug 8, 2018 – Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ conditions to support the National Energy Guarantee (NEG) are a step in the right direction but fail to address the scheme’s fundamental flaw of low targets.Victoria should only support a policy that is at least as ambitious as the state’s own legislated renewable energy target, which aims to reduce carbon pollution by 40 percent by 2025.

“Daniel Andrews’ proposals to improve the NEG will be welcomed by Victorians and Australians alike. The changes, which allow easier adjustment of the target, are important”, Greenpeace Australia Pacific Campaigner, Alix Foster Vander Elst, said.

“However, the biggest problem hasn’t been addressed – the NEG as it is, simply won’t cut coal pollution, and it won’t cut power prices.” [1]

“Victoria should not support a scheme that so dramatically lowballs its own sensible state renewable energy target. The do-nothing NEG’s 26 percent target is too low to bring down power bills, protect the jobs in the renewables industry, or to safeguard the planet.”

The Victorian Government’s conditions for supporting the NEG are:

  • Emissions reduction targets can only be allowed to increase over time and never go backwards
  • Future targets will need to be set by regulation rather than legislation, allowing the minister to alter the target without having to negotiate a hostile Senate
  • The targets will need to be set every three years, three years in advance
  • Establishment of a transparency registry, with access by regulators and governments to ensure the NEG is working in the best interests of consumers.

“The proposals around stopping backsliding on the target, regular reviews and allowing the minister to adjust the target are necessary measures but they still don’t add up to a credible climate policy,” Foster Vander Elst said.

“The pressure is now on Malcolm Turnbull and Josh Frydenberg to herd the cats in the Coalition party room and bring them around to this sensible but still insufficient compromise. This is a true test of leadership. Will they stare down the coal huggers or buckle to their demands and take Australia back to the past?”

 

Notes:

[1] https://www.greenpeace.org.au/research/neg-report/

 

For interviews:

Martin Zavan, Greenpeace Australia Pacific Communications Campaigner

0424 295 422

[email protected]