The Andrews Labor Government is deeply disappointed with the Abbott Government’s announcement that the Renewable Energy Target (RET) will be scaled back to 33,000 gigawatt hours by 2020.
After a year of stalling by the Abbott Government, which saw the clean energy industry shed jobs, the federal Opposition made the responsible choice to do a deal to secure as much future investment as they could.
But cutting the RET has left Australia at risk of falling behind other nations in the transition to renewable energy and put Victorian jobs in jeopardy.
The Labor Government is currently speaking with the industry to hear what effects this announcement will have on their businesses, and what action could salvage some of the investment we’ll lose from this cut.
The 41,000GWh Renewable Energy Target was created out of an bi-partisan agreement between the Commonwealth, States and Territories in 2009.
In exchange for a greatly increased national target, state based schemes were rolled into the expanded RET. The national RET included a legal barrier to states having their own complementary RET schemes. It is appropriate that the Commonwealth now reconsider this barrier to give States and Territories more policy options.
The Labor Government is currently developing the Renewable Energy Action Plan, which will provide a comprehensive set of measures to attract Victoria’s share of the potential investment in renewable energy forecast to occur in Australia by 2020.
The Government has also secured $20 million in its 2015-16 Victorian Budget for the New Energy Jobs Fund, that will drive investment in renewable energy technologies and projects.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy & Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio
“Attacking the renewable energy industry is attacking Victorian jobs.”
“Victoria will lead the way on renewable energy, which creates jobs, drives growth and helps us maintain our lifestyle and protect the environment.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Environment, Climate Change & Water, Lisa Neville
“We’ve restarted the wind farm industry and we’re committed to once again being a leader on tackling climate change.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020