2023-03-24
The Greens say the government must include funding for an independent statutory National Energy Transition Authority (NETA) in the May budget after a report by a Labor-controlled committee overlooked the weight of supportive submissions and recommended the Senate reject the party’s NETA bill.
The Greens’ bill would establish an independent statutory authority as a coordinating body to oversee the transition to renewable energy, working with communities, workers, unions, energy companies and governments at all levels to plan the pipeline of clean energy projects.
Comments attributable to Greens spokesperson on Industry, Transition and Regional Development, Senator Penny Allman-Payne:
“The case for a National Energy Transition Authority is overwhelming, and the latest IPCC report sheets home just how quickly we must get off coal and gas and transition to a zero emissions economy.
“Just last week the ACTU, BCA, ACF and WWF published a joint budget submission which called on the Albanese Government to establish and fund ‘an independent national-level Energy Transition Authority’ in May’s budget.
“The Mining and Energy Union said last month that if we don’t have a National Energy Transition Authority in place by the end of the year it may be too late.
“The committee’s recommendation that the Senate rejects this bill runs counter to the overwhelmingly supportive submissions from organisations like the Clean Energy Council, Smart Energy Council, Beyond Zero Emissions and ACOSS.
“In this parliament, the only thing standing in the way of climate action is Labor. If Labor wanted it, Australia could have a transition authority in place by June.
“Instead of squandering this opportunity and standing in the way of climate action, Labor should back the Greens’ bill and provide funding in May’s budget to establish an independent statutory transition authority.”