This Month
Labor is adrift on gas policy. Here’s why that’s bad
Without a clear strategy, Labor leaves the field open to those who insist we should stop all gas now, and those who argue that gas will be around for many decades yet.
May
Four critical energy and climate must-do’s in Labor’s second term
Tackling climate change and driving the energy transition may not have been top of mind for voters, but these issues will define how the government is judged in the decades ahead.
March
Victoria’s energy challenge explained (in 7 charts)
The state has been powered by vast reserves of cheap oil, gas and brown coal. But it faces blackouts in coming years – here’s how that happened.
What the next government must do to get emissions and power prices down
Four major actions will be necessary to get Australia on track to the 2050 target. Three swift actions must be taken to ensure reliable and affordable electricity in the transition.
January
Why Trump’s ‘drill, baby, drill’ mantra won’t work in Australia
The US president’s rationale that cheaper gas will power a manufacturing renaissance and reduce household bills can’t be applied to fix the energy woes here.
December 2024
Victoria is running out of gas and there is no easy fix
A gas-rich, wealthy country unable to supply gas to its major population centres is a massive policy failing. There is one “least-worst” solution.
November 2024
COP29 made slow progress in the hottest year ever
The value of the international climate talkfest is again under the spotlight. But Australia should stay on board what has been described as humanity’s life raft.
Climate change has broken Labor’s promise to cut electricity bills by $275
The reality for both sides of politics is that delivering lower emissions and reducing power prices is a false target. This is not negotiable – we cannot negotiate with physics.
September 2024
Six points that Peter Dutton’s nuclear plan has to answer
The major parties are further apart than ever on energy policy, and neither has a credible plan to reduce prices. Where does that leave the Coalition’s nuclear gamble?
August 2024
How to keep Future Made in Australia out of the pork barrel
Industry policies rightly have a bad name. The government needs to tighten the wording of its FMIA bill if it wants to prevent abuse.
Fixing the electricity market for good
The Productivity Commission looks set to review the 1990s-era electricity market design. The key will be making sure that governments stick to an agreed fix.
June 2024
Why 2030 targets are in trouble and Australia may fall short
In hindsight, the scale and pace of the task were underestimated by federal and state governments.
April 2024
Post-coal power choice is renationalisation or redesigning the market
An integrated net-zero electricity system depends on governments restoring faith in the market delivering enough power to the right places at the right time.
March 2024
Running out of gas is avoidable – but we need to move fast
Declining production from offshore Victorian gas fields is unlikely to be substantially replaced by new local gas supply.
February 2024
Put the foot down on clean car standards
Stricter rules for lower-emissions new vehicles are long overdue, and the risks are easily managed.
December 2023
Less hype, more hard work needed to realise hydrogen hopes
Hydrogen offers three big opportunities that should be grasped now, and realising them without undue hope or excessive long-term subsidies requires focused analysis and clear policies.
November 2023
Green power play could hit target or destroy electricity market
The bottom line on the Capacity Investment Scheme will depend on whether it’s done well and the risks are managed.
Chalmers has rebooted energy policy
A mid-term government is now realising that energy and climate must become a focus for the whole cabinet.
August 2023
How to get the energy transition back on track
Current trends will mean missing our 2030 emissions targets, risking electricity reliability and failing to deliver the federal government’s promise of cheaper power. Change is urgently required on all three fronts.
June 2023
Hydrogen is too far off to replace gas power
Electricity already does the same job as natural gas in millions of homes and small businesses and is steadily becoming net zero emissions.