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Climate policy

This Month

Ellie Smith’s independent campaign in Dickson helped topple opposition leader Peter Dutton.

Nationals driving Liberals to extinction, says Climate 200

The crowdfunding group says the Coalition must act on climate or face political annihilation, after some low-profile candidates it backed made inroads at the election.

Teals

‘Not one hit wonders’: Teal roll-back fails to materialise

The Coalition has failed to retake urban seats and faces losses to climate candidates in Bradfield and Forrest, while Labor is on the defensive in Bean.

‘There’s not much left’: Coalition retreats on climate policy

Energy experts say the opposition does not have any credible policies to tackle climate change.

April

In the community there is a lack of confidence on how we will respond to a much more uncertain global outlook and the 2nd Trump presidency.

The five big challenges regardless of the election result

Our next parliament must be ambitious. That doesn’t mean ideology or utopianism – it means pragmatism, evidence, and commitment to the national interest, even when it’s politically inconvenient.

Independent MPs Allegra Spender, Zali Steggall, Sophie Scamps, Zoe Daniel and Monique Ryan all back tax reform, including changes to negative gearing.

Teals are as green as they need to be as climate catastrophe looms

Readers’ letters on independents’ voting patterns, major parties’ lack of big ideas, Labor’s defence fail, Peter Dutton’s climate stumble, and universities wasting millions on IT infrastructure.

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The Mount Arthur coal mine.

NSW backs BHP’s early coal mine closure

Decades of coal production will be kept in the ground after the NSW government backed BHP’s plan to shut a mine early and convert to clean energy generation.

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ASX rebounds; Labor’s climate wedge; Viktor Shvets’ tariff fears

Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.

Angus Taylor had his chance for four years as minister to lead in the energy transition.

Voters deserve better than empty slugfests dressed up as debates

The closer we get to May 3, substance is being swiftly usurped by banal talking points and shrill attack lines whenever politicians step up to a microphone.

Peter Dutton says power prices will be higher if Anthony Albanese wins a second term.

Household batteries plan proof power bills will rise under ALP: Dutton

Anthony Albanese used a rally with Labor supporters in Brisbane on Sunday to unveil his $2.3 billion plan for household electrification. 

March

Climate Change Authority chair Matt Kean (right) and federal Liberal leader Peter Dutton.

Matt Kean is at war with Liberals on climate, but some see a way back

A pugilist, an environmental warrior or just a “pain in the arse”? The Liberal moderate annoys members, but his uncompromising style could help win back the disaffected.

US giant quits NT cattle station amid carbon confusion

Uncertainty and delays in the release of new rules for carbon projects spur Hartree, indirectly owned by US global funds giant Brookfield, to sell

The CEFC last week invested $550 million of taxpayer-backed capital in a bond sale by ASX-listed electricity transmission grid operator Transgrid for its critical HumeLink poles and wires project in NSW.

Has the green bank outlived its purpose? It’s a $32.5 billion question

If the taxpayer-funded Clean Energy Finance Corporation is to continue, its role should be to provide a subsidy in areas when there is a lack of private capital or a genuine market failure.

Nationals leader David Littleproud.

Pacific nations should lobby China on climate change: Littleproud

The Nationals leader said Australia pursuing an aggressive 2035 emissions reduction target would not shift the dial on global emissions.

Putting off action will only ensure more extreme weather and destructive events such as the fires that ripped through California earlier this year.

Megatrends that will trump any MAGA trend

Businesses, investors and the wider community in Australia and beyond can’t let short-term squalls blow us off our long-term course to cut carbon emissions.

February

A flooded South Pine River, north of Brisbane, in January. The ICA says of the estimated 225,000 Australian homes in the highest flood risk locations, only 23pc have flood cover.

Insurers call for $30b flood defence fund to protect properties

After Peter Dutton said he wanted to break up insurers, the industry wants to partner with governments to strengthen infrastructure and relocate the most vulnerable buildings.

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Liberal candidate Andrew Constance says the Coalition will take Australia’s 2035 climate target “off the table”

Liberal hopeful says Paris climate target is ‘off the table’

Former state MP Andrew Constance, who is gunning for the coastal seat of Gilmore, says the Coalition will take a 2035 climate target “off the table”.

Coalition nuclear ‘policy’ just a bunch of words to grab attention

Readers’ letters on LNP attacks on Climate Change Authority chairman Matt Kean, ditching cash, Larry Fink’s mortgage idea, possible fuel shortages, and Donald Trump’s true goal.

Andrew Horton, CEO of QBE, says to reduce premiums, you need to reduce risks.

QBE boss hits back: high insurance premiums are due to risk

Andrew Horton has issued the first response from an insurance industry boss since the opposition leader threatened to break up companies.

Once a climate change critic, former Nine News presenter and 2GB radio host Chris O’Keefe is the Clean Energy Council’s new national spokesman.

‘Worst in a decade’: Why the campaign against renewables is thriving

After a recent boardroom shake-up, Australia’s top renewables industry group wants to take the fight to its enemies.

Macquarie has become the first major Australian bank to withdraw from a global banking climate alliance.

Macquarie exits green banking alliance in first for local lenders

The company will follow JPMorgan, Citi and Bank of America out of the Net Zero Banking Alliance after the return of Donald Trump to the White House.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/climate-policy-1mpo