We need modest climate targets, says Labor’s Joel Fitzgibbon

Joel Fitzgibbon doubts Labor will win next election if it adopts more ambitious climate change policies.

Labor resources spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon. Picture: AAP

Joel Fitzgibbon has poured doubt over whether Labor will win the next election if it adopts more ambitious medium-term climate change policies than the Coalition.

The opposition resources spokesman defended his controversial call made last year to adopt the Coalition’s 2030 Paris targets, declaring a bipartisan “settlement” was needed on the issue.

“We’ve had a number of elections where the Labor Party has attempted to sell a more meaningful climate change policy to the electorate, and we’ve lost,” Mr Fitzgibbon told ABC’s Q&A program.

“We can keep losing and remain in opposition. And guess how much you get to do on climate change policy if you are perpetually in opposition? Zero.

“But, worse, you give deniers like Matt (Canavan) the opportunity to stay in government and continue to fail on both energy policy and climate change policy.”

When asked if Labor could win the next election with an aggressive climate change policy, Mr Fitzgibbon said: “We’ve had a few cracks at it and it hasn’t turned out all that well for us so far”.

“My appeal last October to Scott Morrison was for bipartisanship: ‘We’ll back your target for the next three years. Let’s see whether we can at least get to your target’,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

“If we can get there without causing people economic harm, then surely then we’ve got a stronger platform from which to sell a more meaningful policy.”

Labor has adopted a zero-net emissions by 2050 target but is yet to decide on a medium-term goal.

Bill Shorten went to the last election vowing to lower emissions by 45 per cent of 2005 levels by 2030.

The Coalition’s 2030 target is 26 to 28 per cent.

Mr Fitzgibbon, the co-leader of the pro-coal Otis Group of Labor MPs, said the politicians on the Left and Right had put their political interests ahead of finding a policy solution to deal with climate change.

“For almost 20 years now, people have put their own political interests ahead of the national interest,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

“They are people on the Left – the Greens, for example, when they voted against the CPRS in the Senate – and of course those on the Right.

“It’s won the Coalition a number of elections now, and we have to find ways now of dealing with that reality.”

Nationals senator Matt Canavan defended his call in The Australian last week for Australia to leave the Paris agreement.

“This agreement is not working. It is not working for us. It is not working for the world. But, unfortunately, it is causing an obsession among Australian policymakers to distort decision-making down a completely fruitless path,” Senator Canavan said.

“We are not going to save the planet from here in Queensland.”