Scott Morrison has finally released his “plan” for a net zero carbon emissions future to 2050 and its political thrust, rural and regional assurances, economic outlook and simple appeal to families and business is all built on the traditions of past success.
It’s a middle road strategy seeking to recognise and attract those Australians who want commitments to reducing carbon emissions while offering protection and solace to those who feel threatened by job losses, industry closures and rising family costs.
The political strategy is also being driven from the middle of the divisive climate change debate rejecting compulsion and legislation as it promotes choice and offers protection through an “energy, trade and economic plan”.
Essentially it is about following “the Australian way” through fair, practical and balanced measures to “protect the Australian way life” threatened by global forces and institutional diktats.
“Our plan enables them. It doesn’t legislate, it doesn’t mandate them. It doesn’t force them,” he said, arguing it respected people who wanted change and those who felt threatened.
Morrison even flipped the argument that Australia is an international pariah because of its reluctance on climate change targets and coal exports and declared that this “uniquely Australian” path was offering global leadership on climate change.
Harking to Hanrahan Morrison pushed for the middle course saying: “There are those that say we will be roon’d if don’t and those that say we will be roon’d if we do”.
Yet, the test for Morrison’s plan to reach a target is not how Boris Johnson praises it – which he has – but whether those wanting carbon emissions cuts accept it as genuine and sufficient and whether those fearful of losing jobs and businesses believe it will protect them.
Having veered perilously close to a tipping point on public support for the Coalition and his own credibility and survival Morrison has unleashed a newly-formed, comprehensive political and economic argument that he will now pursue for every day until the election next year.
While the plan is a globally driven outlook towards 2050 and future technological development, the core basis for the appeal for public support and endorsement looks back to last 30 years of climate politics in Australia.
Morrison is enmeshing his climate change plan with economic management and growth building on a record he claims shows emissions have been cut 20 per cent while the economy has grown 45 per cent.
“Australians want a plan that gets the balance right, a uniquely Australian way,” he said.
“This is an energy, trade and economic plan. Australia will set our path by Australians for Australians that keeps traditional advantages and keeps downward pressures on family costs,” he said.
That Australian way of life was specifically linked to rural Australia and the future of gas and coal with no new taxes or costs associated with the 2050 plan.
There was even a nod to John Howard’s introduction of the fraught GST which included a consumer watchdog role for the ACCC with Morrison committing to five-year Productivity Commission reviews to ensure rural and regional Australia were not being hit with job losses and costs.
Morrison went further when suggesting only the Coalition had a plan – and not just a target – and that plan did not involve legislating 2030 or 2050 targets, taxes or pressure on electricity costs.
Citing the pandemic experience, the return of one million jobs, cutting emissions and expanding the economy, Morrison declared: “We can be trusted to get it right because we ‘get it’ and we can manage the risks.”
The climate wars continue and the economic impact remains a battleground.
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