2015-12-01
Responding to news that the Turnbull government has committed to double research & development investment on clean energy over the next five years, the Australian Greens today called on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to ditch his government’s plans to abolish ARENA and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), and instead double their budgets.
“How can you, on one hand, say you support innovation and science, and on the other hand want to abolish ARENA and the CEFC? It doesn’t make sense,” Greens Leader Senator Richard Di Natale said.
“Malcolm Turnbull is in grave danger of being another one of those politicians who says one thing, but does another. Who believes one thing, but when it comes to acting in the Parliament, does something completely contrary.”
“ARENA and the CEFC are the organisations driving billions of dollars of investment in clean energy in this country,” Greens Treasury spokesperson Adam Bandt MP said.
“If the Prime Minister wants to double investment in clean energy R&D, he should be doubling the budgets of ARENA and the CEFC, instead of trying to abolish them.”
“After signing on to join ‘Mission Innovation’, the Prime Minister must now walk away from his government’s bills that aim to abolish ARENA and the CEFC, and cut research and development tax credits.”
Media contacts:
Richard Di Natale – Jen Faerber, 0438 376 082
Adam Bandt – Adam Pulford, 0429 109 054