03/04/2021

(AU) APS To Go Net-Zero Under Labor's New Climate Action Vision

Canberra Times - Dan Jervis-Bardy

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong

The Commonwealth public service would aim to become a net-zero carbon emitter if Anthony Albanese topples Scott Morrison at the next election.

Labor members agreed at the party's "virtual" national conference to include the new goal in the policy platform it will take to the next federal election.

Under the commitment, a Labor government would work with public servants, unions and other stakeholders to examine ways to cut emissions from transport, improve energy efficiency in buildings, purchase environmentally friendly products and reduce and recycle waste.

No timeframe has been set for reaching the target.

Community and Public Sector Union national secretary Melissa Donnelly said the federal government should be leading by example.

"The Commonwealth must and should play a leading role in this space," she told the conference.

"It [APS] can be a leading voice and a leading actor."

The party's wider climate and energy platform was endorsed without controversy on Wednesday, with Labor's environmental advocacy wing and industrial workers unions agreeing to a policy direction aimed at protecting and creating jobs while addressing climate change.

Community and Public Sector Union national secretary Melissa Donnelly. Picture: Jamila Toderas

Labor has already committed to net zero emissions by 2050, but has so far resisted pressure to set an interim target for 2030.

Mr Albanese told ABC's RN Breakfast on Wednesday morning it would "make no sense" to commit to medium-term targets before two major global conferences slated for this year - including November's United Nations climate meeting in Glasgow - had been held.

Climate policy was a major stumbling block for Labor at the 2019 election, with the party struggling to reconcile its messaging to voters in progressive city electorates and blue-collar workers in its industrial heartland.

Opposition climate spokesman Chris Bowen has shifted Labor's focus since being moved into the role in a January, repeatedly emphasising that workers in coal-mining regions would be able to find jobs in renewable energy industries as Australia transitioned to a low-carbon economy.

Addressing the conference on Wednesday, Mr Bowen reinforced that message.

"The globe's climate emergency is Australia's job opportunity," he said.

'We can put workers and jobs at the centre of climate action."

Mr Albanese earlier on Wednesday unveiled two new climate action policies, including a pledge to make electric cars more affordable by removing import tariffs and fringe benefits taxes for most vehicles.

The promise has been warmly welcomed by advocates, who have been crying out for the Morrison government to do more to accelerate the sluggish uptake of electric vehicles in Australia.

"Labor's new EV policies are a much need boost to electric vehicle uptake, lowering the sticker prices and allowing everyday Australians to get behind the wheel," Australia Institute climate and energy program director Richie Merzian said.

The new policy announcement confirmed Labor had dumped the controversial electric vehicle target which former leader Bill Shorten took to the 2019 election.

Mr Shorten had pledged that half of all new vehicles sold in Australia in 2030 would be electric, a policy the Coalition said would "ruin the weekend" by forcing people to give up their 4WD cars.

Mr Albanese said Labor would not set a target to avoid a repeat scare campaign.

"We've seen that movie and we know that results in a scare campaign. What we're doing is saying that we will make electric vehicles cheaper because we know that this is the future," he told ABC's RN Breakfast.

Asked to comment on Labor's plan, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor pointed out that in February Mr Albanese said government's wouldn't need to subsidise the upfront cost of electric cars because they were expected to reach price parity with petrol-powered vehicles by 2022.

Mr Taylor reiterated that Australians should be able to choose when they wanted to make the switch.

"Every Australian will make a choice at the time that is right for them," he said.

"Whether you're a business, you're an industry, or indeed, you're a household. People will make the choices at the times that suit them. What we've got to do is make sure that the technology is available and supported to make those choices."

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