Labor stays quiet on 2030 emissions target

In a bid to avoid a repeat of the 2019 election campaign, Labor insiders say they won’t give Scott Morrison the fight he wants on climate.

Labor insiders say they won’t give Scott Morrison the fight he wants on climate, as Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce compared tougher 2030 emissions reductions targets to choosing “to be poor”.

It comes as Mr Morrison rejected suggestions Australia signing the COP26 pledge to “phase down” using coal was the death knell for the fossil fuel.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese hinted Labor could adopt a 2030 emissions reduction target higher than 35 per cent, saying the government said the milestone could be reached by “doing nothing”.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese says Labor will announce its 2030 emissions reduction target by the end of the year. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Sources suggest the Opposition could land on a target around 35-40 per cent reduction, well lower than the target promoted by the Business Council of Australia of 45-50 per cent, as it seeks to avoid a repeat of the 2019 election campaign.

Labor policies already announced, like community batteries, electric car tax incentives and rewiring the nation, could be used to demonstrate where the reductions will come from.

Mr Albanese said Labor would announce its policy before the end of the year.

“The Government itself is saying that it will achieve that amount by doing nothing,” he said.

“We will have our policy announced before the end of the year. A range of positive initiatives that we will continue to roll out to supplement the commitments that we’ve already made.”

Resources Minister Keith Pitt said if Labor moved to have further reductions by 2030 it was “abandoning support for our coal sector”.

“He needs to be upfront with the 300,000 hardworking Australians directly or indirectly employed by the coal industry,” Mr Pitt said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the COP26 pact was not the “death knell” for coal. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Meanwhile, Mr Morrison was questioned about Australia signing the COP26 pact, after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the agreement was the “death knell” for coal.

“I don’t believe it did and for all those working in the industry in Australia, they will continue to work, industry for decades to come,” he said.

“We have a balanced plan to achieve net zero by 2050. But we’re not to make rule and regional Australians to pay for that.”

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sarah Matray

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said Australia phasing out coal and a stronger 2030 emissions reduction target would be akin to choosing “to be poor”.

“If people want to be poor, if that’s the goal, if you want to be poor, you don’t like your standard of living, then stop exporting the stuff that makes you the dollars and you can be poor,” Mr Joyce said.

“Being poor is a very easy policy to follow. It’s a very hard one to fix.”

Originally published as Labor stays quiet on 2030 emissions target