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Bowen says banning new coal mines ‘not part of the agenda’
Chris Bowen, minister for industry, energy and emissions reduction, spars with David Speers on ABC Insiders this morning, in a back and forth over why Labor is not banning new coal and gas projects.
Bowen says Labor will take the national energy market to 82% renewables by 2030, which “inevitably” leaves 18% coming from non-renewables. In the medium-term, he says, that will be gas as coal-fired power stations leave the system.
Speers questions: do we need new coal mines to do that?
“David, the only coal matter that’s been decided by this government is Tanya Plibersek’s decision to reject Clive Palmer’s coalmine.”
He is pushed again: for net zero, do we need new coal?
“The Labor Party is not proposing new coalmines.”
And again: why not say to the Greens, ‘we will ban new coal’?
“We believe in insisting the regime is improved so emissions come down from everyone, all big emitters.”
In a final confirmation of Labor’s stance, Speers asks: there won’t be any ban or time-frame as to when we can stop opening up new coal and gas?
“That’s not part of the agenda, won’t be part of the negotiations.”
Bowen reiterates his goal is to “get emissions down from all our emitters”.
I understand the focus on gas and coal and oil in this discussion. That’s very important. So is, finally, finally, getting a regime in place which reduces emissions from all our big emitters.
Inevitably, any new development has emissions implications … that’s why I’m so determined to get a framework in place to see emissions come down. If safeguards reforms don’t pass there’s no constraint on parliament on biggest emitters, emission also continue to go up.
