Instead, opposition climate change spokesman Chris Bowen is working on a plan that includes community batteries, policies to subsidise electric cars cheaper, and a 10,000-place energy apprenticeships scheme.
“No, an economy-wide carbon price isn’t part of our policy development,” Bowen told ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday.
“I think providing tax cuts for electric vehicles is a good indication of the way our thinking has developed.”
Climate change policy has again been thrown to the centre of political debate with the return of Barnaby Joyce as Nationals leader after last week’s party spill.
But Bowen says the deputy prime minister is out of touch with some members of his own community as Armidale Council in his electorate has declared a climate emergency.
He said Labor has been clear that there will be no new coal-fired power stations in Australia.
“I say to coal workers directly to them and will continue to do so, the world is changing—70 per cent of our coal is exported, most of it to countries who have committed to net zero either by 2050 in the case of Japan and Korea and 2060 in the case of China.”
Liberal backbencher David Sharma said that Joyce’s reelection would mean that the voice of people in regional communities of Australia will be better heard as the government determines which policies to commit to as it attempts to address climate change concerns.
“I don’t think the trajectory of our pathway to new zero future and a lower emissions future is in any doubt,” he told Sky News’ Sunday Agenda program.
He said what the Nationals will try and do is to make sure their regional communities, farmers, and resource exposed sectors do not unduly bear the structural adjustment burden that is underway.
Bowen said the National Farmers’ Federation says they want to be part of the solution and support net zero emissions.
“Farmers get it, they have seen their incomes fall because of climate change, some estimates say up to 50 per cent,” he said.
Winter crops in 2021 are expected to be close to record breaking for Australia.
