New Labor manifesto drops emissions targets for 2030

Anthony Albanese may go to the next election without specific climate change targets for 2030 under an ALP draft policy.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese will be in Coffs Harbour tomorrow. Picture: Tony martin

Anthony Albanese has been given the green light to go to the next election without specific climate change targets for 2030, under an ALP draft policy platform that outlines plans to turn Australia into a “renewable energy superpower”.

The party’s preliminary draft platform — obtained by The Australian — was backed by shadow cabinet this month. The document, a third of the size of the 2018 national platform, makes no mention of a 2030 or 2035 emissions reduction or renewable energy targets. The Labor leader is facing an internal push to drop medium-term targets and focus on a policy of net-zero emissions by 2050.

The 2018 platform would have committed a Bill ­Shorten-led ­government to an emissions ­reduction target of 45 per cent of 2005 levels by 2030, as well as a 50 per cent renewable energy ­target.

The 99-page document reveals Labor has committed to working towards a 15 per cent super­annuation guarantee, implementing major industrial relations reform, a new “living wage” for the gig economy, an expansion of social welfare and an overhaul of the migration program.

Labor also updated its approach to China, saying Australia must engage effectively with ­Beijing but stand up for its “democratic values” while also “safeguarding our sovereignty”.

The new draft platform has put climate change action as a key pillar of Labor’s response to the COVID-19 crisis through the expansion of clean energy industries that the party says will lower costs for the manufacturing sector.

 

“Labor will ensure that Australia becomes a renewable energy superpower, harnessing our natural advantages in clean energy to become energy independent from the world, while lowering power prices, reaching zero net emissions by 2050,” the document says.

“Labor believes Australia’s future prosperity lies as an energy superpower, built on our world-class renewable energy resources and technical skills.

“We will develop and implement practical, collaborative policies informed by the best ­science and consistent with the goals of the Paris Accord to realise Australia’s huge renewable energy opportunities and ensure all ­Australians benefit not only through stronger economic growth but also access to more ­affordable energy.”

Mr Albanese in June moved to end the climate wars by proposing Labor and the Morrison government co-operate on a bipartisan energy policy framework that could be “scalable” for the parties’ different levels of ambition.

Labor has committed to net-zero emissions by 2050 but has not landed on a medium term target for 2030 or 2035.

The document commits Labor to using clean energy to underpin revitalisation of the manu­facturing sector, including in heavy industries.

“Labor will pursue policies which will transform Australia’s established energy-intensive ­industrial sectors — such as ­aluminium and steel, as well as the industries of the future such as ­hydrogen production — so they become global leaders delivering significant jobs, investment and economic diversification,” the document says.

“Labor will work with unions and industry to ensure that the workers and communities affected by economic changes can prosper in a modern energy economy.”

The document also says Labor will support the “responsible ­development of Australia’s gas ­reserves” but did not mention the coal sector.

It says the most “effective and economically beneficial way to address climate change” is to partner with industry workers and communities to develop policies.

“This means incentivising and supporting abatement in the ­industrial, mining and agricultural sectors, utilising the land sector to sequester carbon, supporting the adoption of new transport technologies and delivering a clean, ­affordable and modern energy system,” the document says.

Labor would also commit to taking a “whole-of-government approach” to managing climate risk in the public sector.

The draft policy platform was compiled by working groups of senior Labor figures and has been sent for consultation to a 60-member national policy forum made up of unionists, federal MPs and branch delegates.

The draft platform also commits to blocking changes to industrial relations awards that will cut wages. It pledges to reducing workforce casualisation, pursuing unpaid parental leave of up to two years, paid parental leave of 26 weeks, and a minimum wage that “provides a living wage and will maintain or improve the relative living standards of low paid workers”.

The policy platform, heavily ­influenced by union calls for a ­“living wage”, recommitted Labor’s pledge to abolish the ­Australian Building and Con­struction Commission and repeal the Building and Construction ­Industry Act.

The draft policy document shows Labor will include union representatives, alongside business and community leaders, to be involved in boards, committees and consultative bodies “that provide advice to government”.

According to the document, a Labor government would introduce 10 days’ paid domestic violence leave and move to legislate to protect notice of termination and redundancy pay as a “basic employment right” through a fair entitlements guarantee.

In an interview with News Corp Australia this month, Mr Albanese revealed Labor MPs had finalised the draft policy platform on September 3. He said there would be “less detail, more clarity about our position”.

“It’s a big ask to have someone knock on a door and say ‘I’m here to talk about Labor’s 284 policies’,” the Labor leader said.

The draft platform also committed Labor to overhaul Australia’s temporary migration program.

“Labor will restore public ­confidence in Australia’s temporary migration program and ensure that temporary migration does not adversely affect the employment and training opportunities for Australians, particularly young people who suffer from higher rates of unemployment and underemployment,” the draft platform says.

“Labor’s priority is to ensure that job opportunities are offered to local workers first and that temporary migration will never be used as a means to undercut local wages, conditions and training opportunities.”

On combating people smuggling, the document said Labor would engage with “Australia’s neighbours to address ‘push factors’ by seeking innovative, effective and lawful solutions to the irregular movement of people through the region”.