Climate change is one of the most challenging and complex areas of public policy across the world, including in Australia, where it has been a hotly contested debate for nearly 20 years.
What is often left unrecognised amidst the growing ambition to decarbonise Australia’s economy is our strong track record in emissions reduction and also emissions accounting and reporting. The evidence that came before the Committee bore this out.
Australia is not only meeting its international obligations but is on track to exceed its 2030 emissions reduction target, and work is being done to determine a longer-term emissions reduction pathway in line with the Government’s net zero objective.
Australia’s reporting and accountability framework is world-leading, providing quarterly reporting on emissions, annual forecasts, and an annual low emissions technology statement.
However, no area of public policy is without room for constant improvement, and thus the Climate Change Bills proposed by Ms Zali Steggall OAM MP came as a welcome contribution to the debate. The proposed Bills, and related submissions, were diligently considered by the Committee.
As presented in this inquiry report, the Committee commended positive aspects of the Bills, including requirements to consult with experts and the community in framing future climate policies; ensuring fair employment transition for those industries and workers impacted by change; making more use of the Climate Change Authority as an expert adviser to Government; and working towards even greater clarity of future emission reduction plans in advance of the United Nations (UN) COP 26 conference in December 2021.
The Committee’s report also identified deficiencies in the proposed Bills, including:
1
The proposed Climate Change Commission (CCC) would steer formal policy decisions away from the Parliament and the Executive to an unelected body. Our system of liberal democracy is well recognised as one of the most mature and well-functioning in the world, and it is imperative that its integrity be maintained. No matter how difficult it is to meet the substantive and political challenges of climate change, we parliamentarians cannot shirk our responsibility to determine the national response. What’s more, the Australian people should not be stripped of their right to choose between alternative policy positions at the ballot box. Their voice, especially on an issue as important as climate change, must be protected.
2
The proposed CCC would also replicate work already undertaken within the federal bureaucracy, including by the Climate Change Authority, and the Bills would create additional and potentially inappropriate reporting burdens on other Commonwealth agencies.
3
The proposed requirement to reach net zero emissions by 2050 by legislative force without recognising the importance of addressing the question of ‘how’ it is to be achieved, would give rise to a series of risks including adverse impacts on the economy, specific sectors and jobs. It should also be noted that the Australian Government has already committed to achieving net zero as soon as possible, and preferably by 2050.
Climate change is, of course, a global problem that can only be solved with a global solution. Australia has been making its contribution, and it should continue to do so.
However, in a liberal democracy like Australia, it would be unrealistic and naïve to expect a national consensus on how to meet the challenge of climate change. At times, this lack of consensus can be frustrating for everyone involved, including government and industry—for example, despite great strides being made and targets being exceeded, there remains a chorus of critics talking down achievements and demanding more. Similarly, climate change advocates, and some representatives of business and community can be frustrated — for example, despite putting forward proposals in pursuit of greater emissions reductions, their ideas and arguments are often not taken up.
No matter how challenging it is to tackle the problem of climate change, we should take heart that Australia has the best system of government in the world to ensure the issue is openly debated and to allow solutions to be advanced and critiqued.
I am grateful to my parliamentary colleagues from the Liberal, National and Labor Parties, and the cross bench, who actively participated in, and brought a critical lens to, this inquiry; and also to the ever capable Committee Secretariat.
Ted O’Brien MP
Chair