Labor believed to be planning to cut carbon emissions by more than 45 per cent
LABOR is believed to be working on plans to cut carbon emissions in the energy sector by more than 45 per cent.
NSW
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LABOR is believed to be working on plans to cut carbon emissions in the energy sector by more than 45 per cent.
But as the Turnbull government moves on legislating its 26 per cent target next week, Opposition energy spokesman Mark Butler is refusing to come clean on Labor’s plans.
It comes as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull “hit the panic button” and held a second round of meetings with backbenchers refusing to support his National Energy Guarantee in a desperate bid to win their support.
Labor’s policy is to cut emissions across the whole economy by 45 per cent by 2030.
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Labor sources said the target for the electricity sector could be higher to make up for other industries such as agriculture which would struggle to cut emissions dramatically by 2030.
The government is proposing to legislate its emissions reductions target on the electricity sector which only accounts for about 35 per cent of total emissions.
The Greens want to see the power emissions cut by 90 per cent.
Mr Butler said Labor would attempt to amend the government’s target when it is debated in Parliament in line with Labor’s 45 per cent economy-wide target.
Electricity generation is the largest contributor to Australia’s carbon emissions accounting for 35 per cent, followed by transport (19 per cent) and agriculture (13 per cent).
But when asked to clarify if that would require a higher energy emissions target, Mr Butler refused to answer questions put to his office by The Daily Telegraph.
MORE: Fate of Turnbull’s NEG rests in Labor’s hands
He has left the door open to supporting the government’s plan when Labor fails to successfully amend the target because it does not have the numbers.
He said earlier this week that if the Labor states agreed to the NEG, the federal ALP would not attempt to dismantle the policy and would simply fight for a higher emissions target.
“We are happy to have a strong debate within the community in the context of an election about the need for real ambition on energy investment,” he said.
Mr Butler has previously said that Labor would not force any emissions trading scheme on Australia’s farming businesses and that there needed to be policies for the electricity sector, manufacturing and mining, as well as transport.
The Daily Telegraph understands Mr Turnbull met again with Andrew Gee, Tony Pasin, George Christensen and Barnaby Joyce to find out what changes would be required to get their backing for the NEG.
But nothing was resolved and MPs left without a copy of the emissions legislation.