JOINT MEDIA RELEASE WITH HON IAN MACFARLANE MP, MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY
The Australian Government is committed to renewable energy and a Renewable Energy Target that represents a real 20 per cent of electricity production in Australia, as was the original bipartisan intent.
The Government will begin good faith negotiations with the Labor Party today in the spirit of bipartisanship that the Coalition has always shown on renewable energy policy. It was the Howard Government that introduced the Renewable Energy Target in 2001.
The Government’s support for renewable energy is centred around four key elements:
• The RET should represent a real 20 per cent
• Support for household solar systems should not be changed
• Pressure on energy intensive trade exposed sectors should be reduced
• The renewables sector should have greater clarity by removing the need for a review of the target every two years
The Government is committed to supporting a sustainable renewable energy sector with an amended Renewable Energy Target that will ensure long-term certainty for the renewables sector so it can continue to contribute to Australia’s diverse energy mix.
We look forward to constructive discussions with the Labor Party with a view to providing certainty for the renewable energy sector while better reflecting the market need for new generation, restoring competitiveness to industry and providing electricity price relief to households.