Anthony Albanese says clean energy plan on track despite Fortescue announcement

Twiggy Forrest’s announcement of job cuts affecting his ambitious green hydrogen project shows the failure of the government’s energy plan, the coalition says.

The Prime Minister says his government’s clean energy plan is “on track” despite mining magnate Andrew Forrest suffering a major setback in his green energy ambitions.

But the Opposition used the announcement Mr Forrest’s company Fortescue Mining was restructuring its mining and energy divisions, with a direct impact on its green hydrogen ambitions, to say it showed the government’s renewables plan was a “super-flop”.

Fortescue had its sights set on producing cheap renewable energy at scale, but some believe Wednesday’s announcement means its goal of producing 15 million tonnes of green hydrogen a year by 2030 is unlikely to be achieved. 

Anthony Albanese, who was in northern Queensland on Thursday, said the Fortescue announcement did not worry him.

“Our energy plan is on track,” he told reporters in the outback town of Winton.

Anthony Albanese says his government clean energy plan is still on track despite businessman Andrew Forrest’s green hydrogen setback. Picture: NewsWire / David Crosling

“We want to make sure that we deliver the clean energy that Australia needs and that when coal fired power stations close, as they’ve announced their closure, there isn’t a gap in the energy security that Australia needs.

“That’s why we need a real plan that’s fully costed, and that’s being rolled out with the certainty being provided for investment.”

Fortescue said it remained “resolute in its commitment to be the world’s leading green technology, energy and metals company with a laser focus on achieving Real Zero by 2030”.

But opposition energy spokesman Ted O’Brien said the Fortescue move showed “Labor’s ‘green hydrogen superpower’ vision is quickly turning into a ‘super-flop’.”

Opposition energy spokesman Ted O'Brien says the Fortescue announcement shows the ‘failure’ of the government’s green energy policy. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Twiggy’s abandonment of green hydrogen has blown a gaping hole in the Albanese Labor government’s energy plans,” Mr O’Brien said.

“The collapse of this project is symptomatic of Labor’s failing all-eggs-in-one-basket ‘renewables only’ plan which is eating away at Australia’s energy future.

“Despite offering billions in taxpayer funds these projects are still failing to get off the ground.”

Mr O’Brien said the Coalition was taking a “sensible technology agnostic approach” to energy – including hydrogen and its controversial nuclear reactor policy.