Scott Morrison’s $2b action plan sets out to revive Abbott-era environment policy

Scott Morrison will pledge to spend $2 billion over a decade reviving Tony Abbott’s “direct action” environment plan as he tries to fend off an election battle over climate change.

SCOTT Morrison will pledge to spend $2 billion over a decade reviving Tony Abbott’s “direct action” environment plan as he tries to fend off an election battle over climate change.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison visiting Briagolong in Gippsland , Victoria to speak with farmers about the effects of on going drought in the region. Picture: Ian Currie

But the Prime Minister signalled a new line of attack on Bill Shorten’s plan for a higher 45 per cent target to cut emissions, claiming this would impose a “cost far worse than the carbon tax Labor said they wouldn’t introduce”.

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In a major speech designed to rebut claims the Government has done nothing on climate change, Mr Morrison will defend Australia’s target to cut emissions by ­between 26 and 28 per cent of 2005 levels by 2030 agreed at the Paris Climate Change summit.

The PM is planning other environmental announcements, including on hydro energy, but will reject calls for tougher emissions targets. Instead, he will pump more cash into the Emissions Reduction Fund set up by Mr Abbott to fund projects, such as paying farmers to plant trees and subsidising energy-efficient light bulbs for small business.

The $2.55 billion scheme set up by Mr Abbott after he scrapped the carbon tax has dwindled to just $226 million, despite a previous pledge to increase it by $200 million a year.

Some Liberals lobbied to revive the Abbott era policy after the party lost former PM Malcolm Turnbull’s eastern Sydney seat to Independent Kerryn Phelps.

The Coalition faces similar battles in seats, including those held by Mr Abbott, Greg Hunt and Josh Frydenberg, where Independents are campaigning on climate change. Mr Morrison will use his speech today to portray the ­Abbott era scheme as a way to deliver “practical solutions that reduce carbon emissions, while preserving our economic strength and living standards”.

“We don’t believe we have to choose between our environment and our economy,” he said in notes prepared for the speech.

The Emissions Reduction Fund has subsidised 277 projects, including recycling schemes and bushfire management plans and led to 193 million tonnes of emissions reductions, Mr Morrison said.

Meanwhile, Newspoll results, published in The Australian today reveal no change in two-party ­preferred status with Labor still leading the Coalition 53-47.