Kevin Hogan MP: “Climate change is a real risk that needs us to respond accordingly”
The Nationals member for Page is part of the subcommittee working through a new emissions policy for his party.
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Nationals Page MP Kevin Hogan was in a critical political position this week, discussing an emissions target for his party and the Coalition.
He has been part of the four-person subcommittee working through the emissions policy with cabinet ministers Bridget McKenzie and David Littleproud and frontbench minister Keith Pitt.
“We’re having very fruitful discussions to land on a position this week.
“I agree climate change is a real risk that needs us to respond accordingly.”
But climate change denial and new energy sources are tricky topics within his party.
Back in March, Mr Hogan distanced himself from Senator McKenzie’s stance that nuclear power is a “mature, low emissions technology”.
Mr Hogan said Australia leads the world per-capita in investment in renewable energy.
“It’s almost double the level of second placed Japan,” he said.
“The Commonwealth Government invested $1.6 billion in solar rooftop rebates in the past 12 months alone. We also have a new $2 billion Climate Solutions Fund to ensure we meet and beat our climate change targets.”
Mr Hogan said Australia’s emissions have fallen 20.1 per cent since 2005.
“Between 2005 and 2019, Australia has reduced emissions faster than similar economies including Canada, New Zealand, Japan and United States,” he said.
“In that time China’s emissions have risen 67 per cent and India 77 per cent.
“Our emissions today are 20 per cent lower than in 2005, and at their lowest level since records began in 1990.”
Is that enough to convince the Page and Australian electorates of the National’s environmental credentials?
Mr Hogan thinks it is.
The politician argues that the Emissions Reduction Fund his government set up helped achieve Australia’s 12.9 per cent reduction.
“It secured 143 million tonnes of emissions reductions from hundreds of projects at an average price of $12.10 per tonne,” he said.
“Australia’s emissions per capita and the emissions intensity of the economy continue to fall and are at their lowest levels in three decades.”
Kevin Hogan said the Coalition government has also improved the presence of renewable energy in the Australian market.
“In 2013, when we came to office, renewables contributed 13.7 per cent of electricity in the national market,” he said.
“In 2019, this had grown to 22.7 per cent”.
“According to the Australian Government’s 2019 emissions projections, renewables are expected to contribute 27 per cent of Australia’s electricity sent out in 2020 and over 40 per cent by 2030.”
Mr Hogan argues that Australia is installing renewable energy generation capacity at a record rate — ten times faster than the global average.
Then why are environmental advocates protesting outside Mr Hogan’s office?
A similar protest occurred on Tuesday, when the office front and the street were graffitied.
“Regarding the protest, paramount to me is the safety and wellbeing of my staff,” he said.
“Extinction Rebellion entered my office recently, filmed my staff when asked not to, sat on the floor and refused to leave when asked, and yelled abuse.
“This is totally unacceptable.”
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