2016-03-23
The Australian Greens have criticised Malcolm Turnbull's new Clean Energy Innovation Fund for trying to make a cut in clean energy funding look like an investment.
"This is a clean energy con job dressed up as innovation " said Greens Leader Richard Di Natale.
"Tony Abbott is not the benchmark of good climate policy and in a climate emergency, this should not be the best Malcolm Turnbull can do to transform our economy.
"The concept of the fund could have some merit but not while it results in a cut to ARENA's total funding or opening the door to so-called ‘low pollution' projects like gas.
"True innovation that we are exporting to the world, like the world-first wave power project in Western Australia, would not be possible under the model PM Turnbull has proposed, which ends ARENA's capacity to provide grants for research and development."
Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and climate change spokesperson, said:
"Cutting support for renewable energy while continuing to prop up dirty energy flies in the face of the Paris agreement to keep global warming within 1.5 degrees.
"The government is axing direct renewable energy grants, while giving about $4 billion every year to big fossil fuel companies in subsidies like research hub grants and cheap fuel.
"To save our Great Barrier Reef, our Pacific Island neighbours' homes and our very way of life from extreme weather we must support clean energy not dirty energy," Senator Waters said.
Greens Energy spokesperson Adam Bandt MP said: "Australia can become a new energy superpower if we want it to.
"The Greens' Renew Australia plan will power the new economy by bringing down the cost of electricity for 21st century industry and households, which would create sustainable jobs.
"The Greens want to 'power up' the country, so Renew Australia will increase our overall electricity production by about 50% and help double our energy efficiency by 2030. This will mean more jobs in the electricity sector and more jobs in new industries looking for cheaper, clean power.
"'Under Renew Australia, government would deliver major new clean energy projects where the sun shines, the wind blows and the waves pound by working with industry and the community through a combination of reverse auctions and direct investment."