Gas key to ALP’s net zero emissions plan in 2021 draft party platform

Inside Labor’s plan to achieve 2050 net zero carbon emissions: gas and help for workers in closed down coal-fired power stations.

Anthony Albanese and opposition energy spokesman Chris Bowen. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Australian gas will play a crucial role in Anthony Albanese’s plan to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, as Labor’s new party platform pushes for medium term climate targets and a new body to help workers in closed down coal-fired power stations.

The final draft ALP platform released on Sunday says the ALP will back new gas projects and the gas extraction industry as part of the transition to a net zero target.

The Australian revealed late last year that medium term emissions targets would be in the party’s platform – due to go to the ALP national conference on March 30 – but the platform does not state when or what that climate goal will ultimately be.

Opposition energy spokesman Chris Bowen said on Sunday gas will help the net zero emissions goal, and will continue to play a key part of the nation’s energy grid.

“Net zero by 2050 is critical to protecting jobs in traditional industries, and creating jobs in the industries of the future. Gas plays an important role in Labor’s target of net zero emissions by 2050,” Mr Bowen said.

“It will continue to play an important role in firming the energy grid, particularly with the

growth of household renewables. The Government’s gas-fired recovery remains full of hot air. It looks like more spin again as the gas jobs forecast for the recovery period is minuscule.”

Shadow cabinet agreed to a “pro-gas’’ peace deal last August as it sought to defuse an open conflict within caucus on climate and energy policy and meet demands from major ­unions to back blue-collar jobs.

As Scott Morrison champions a gas-led recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, The Australian revealed last year shadow cabinet endorsed a joint submission by then-opposition energy spokesman Mark Butler and then-resources spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon outlining a “statement of principles” forming the framework of Labor’s future policies on climate and ­energy.

The final draft platform on Sunday also confirms Labor’s support for the Paris Agreement, the net zero by 2050 target, and the setting of medium term targets.

Senior Labor sources it was not decided yet whether an Albanese government would set targets for 2030 or 2035, and what those targets would be.

“With business-as-usual by this government, and in spite of all the good work by state

governments, it would take 146 years to get to net zero emissions. 70% of our trading partners are moving to net zero by 2050,” Mr Bowen said.

“We can either stand by and watch our exporters and manufacturers feel that brunt, or we can jump on board and grow these industries and our economy.”

Coal is only mentioned once in the final draft 2021 platform and it is for a statutory body which would aim to protect workers who suffer from the shutdown of power stations.

The proposed body would help workers at closed coal-fired power stations join work transfer schemes, and Mr Bowen said he would invest in coal communities if in government.

“Labor will protect and create jobs for workers in traditional industries that have built our

nation’s wealth. Labor will invest in these communities, and they will continue to power our country and the world, regardless of what energy source turns the light on,” Mr Bowen said.