O’Dowd criticises Labor, Greens for slashing ARENA funds

Federal MP: “Albo comes to Gladstone and says he supports blue-collar workers and regional Australia. Yet will continue to make deals with the Greens to prevent the growth and development of Australia’s resources and agriculture industries.”

Flynn MP Ken ODowd criticises Labor Government for slashing ARENA funds.

Federal Member Ken O’Dowd has criticised the Labor Party after it joined forces with the Greens to cut $192.5 million from Australian Renewable Energy Agency.

On Tuesday, the Senate voted against a government regulation that would allow ARENA to invest in technologies such as carbon capture and “clean” hydrogen made using gas, low-emission cars, and micro-grid pilot programs.

Labor senators teamed up with the Greens party to cut $192.5 million of new funding for ARENA and disallow a regulation that expands the clean technology agency’s mandate to play a major role in driving the next generation of low-emissions technologies.

Federal Member for Flynn Ken O’Dowd said this decision showed that Anthony Albanese, the Labor Party and its alliance with the Greens could not be trusted to support the long-term future of Australia’s resources and agriculture industries.

“Is it pretty clear Labor has not changed, Labor has walked away from clean tech jobs, and blue-collar jobs,” Mr O’Dowd.

“Albo comes to Gladstone and says he supports blue-collar workers and regional Australia. Yet will continue to make deals with the Greens to prevent the growth and development of Australia’s resources and agriculture industries.

“This has cut $192.5 million in from ARENA and cost up to 1,400 new jobs in these emerging industries. These jobs would have would have supported industries like mining, agriculture, transport, manufacturing and electricity, which employ over 2.2 million Australians.

“They have sent a clear message to Australian voters that the Labor Party would prefer to play politics than support Australian jobs.”

ALP was approached for comment.