Media release – Former Greens Leaders, 8 November 2021
Former Greens Leaders Mark 10th Anniversary of World Leading Clean Energy Package.
On 8th November 2011, the Gillard Government Clean Energy Act passed the Senate. It immediately made global headlines transforming Australia’s reputation as a climate laggard to a leader in seriously addressing rising greenhouse gas emissions. It was hailed by the International Energy Agency as template legislation in addressing global warming. It all came about because Greens were in the balance of power.
“The Clean Energy Package was a remarkable example of what minority government with Greens in the balance of power can do to make Australia a world leader,” former Australian Greens leader Bob Brown said.
“The Greens brought new ideas not just to bring down emissions but to the negotiations which saw the setting up of a Multi Party Climate Change Committee made up of Government, Greens and Independents as well as external experts. This was critical to creating the space for the Labor Government to change its mind and go beyond its former climate ambition. It is what is needed again,” former Greens Leader Christine Milne AO added.
“Putting a price on carbon brought down Australia’s emissions with ANU estimating that the scheme cut emissions by as much as 17 million tonnes the biggest annual reduction in emissions in 24 years because it drove down pollution from major industries.
The package was remarkable in that it was not just a price on carbon but it was supported by a suite of new institutions to drive the rollout of renewable energy at scale to bring down emissions in a timeframe that climate science required. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation were established and supported with a $10 billion fund.
The confidence they built in the Australian finance community to fund renewable energy during the most crucial period when subsidies were required was a major contributor to the major gains in renewable energy generation we are seeing now,” Christine Milne said.
“The great thing in 2021 is that those crucial years saw a tipping point where renewables came down the cost curve so much that they have seen off fossil fuels to the point where it is now fossil fuels that are uncompetitive and need subsidies to remain in the market. The Climate Change Authority was another important new institutions charged with depoliticising climate ambition so that the Australian Parliament could increase ambition in line with the science and recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Whilst it is true that climate wrecking Tony Abbott’s LNP Government tore down the carbon price, it did not succeed in destroying the institutional structure which has delivered so many wins since.The upcoming federal election gives Australia the opportunity to revamp its climate policies and improve our security and well being at the same time. Let’s put Greens in the balance of power to drive the process again,” Christine Milne concluded.
