Government will negotiate on passage of renewable energy targets

The Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water, Penny Wong, told a packed house at Australia’s biggest ever clean energy conference that the federal government will negotiate with major parties on the passage of amendments to the Renewable Energy Target (RET) legislation.

Speaking at the Clean Energy Council conference in Adelaide, Minister Wong said the government is open to continuing negotiations in parliament to pass the RET amendments, provided the amendments meet certain criteria.

“The government is prepared to negotiate with the opposition and the cross benchers to achieve passage of the bill - but on the basis that any amendment they propose must: assist in meeting Australia’s 20% renewable energy target; should help unlock investment in renewable energy; and be economically responsible, fair and efficient,” Minister Wong said.

“Over the next couple of years, we need to work at rebuilding the consensus in this country on climate action and making it stronger than ever.

“I look forward to all political parties being able to set aside differences on climate change to support this legislation in the national interest in the winter session of the parliament,” she said.

Minister Wong’s comments followed a keynote presentation by AGL Chief Executive Michael Fraser who said the RET reforms were essential to providing stability and certainty for Australia’s renewable energy sector.

“It is critical that these reforms are legislated as soon as parliament resumes. The reforms have always had bi-partisan support so there is no reason the legislation should not be passed immediately,” Fraser said.

The Clean Energy Council conference is the biggest renewable energy conference in Australia’s history, with more than 700 delegates gathered to prepare for a multibillion-dollar expansion of the clean energy industry over the next decade.