Australian Greens' Dissenting Report

1.1        The Australian Greens oppose the Climate Change Authority (Abolition) Bill 2013.

1.2        The importance of independent, apolitical advice based firmly in climate science and economic analysis cannot be understated at this point in Australia's history. At a time when scientific or economic evidence is either disregarded or treated with contempt by the Abbott government, the work of the Climate Change Authority is absolutely essential to inform public debate and the Parliament.

1.3        The Authority was set up, based on the success of the United Kingdom's Committee on Climate Change to impart recommendations to the Parliament on the level of ambition Australia—as a responsible global citizen—should adopt in driving greenhouse gas emissions reductions. It is above politics and was one of the central institutions established by the Greens and the multi-party climate change committee as part of the Clean Energy Package.

1.4        The Authority has to date provided detailed, evidence-based reports into surveying the international momentum on transitioning to low-carbon economies, fuel efficiency standards, reviewing the renewable energy target, recommending caps on Australia’s emissions and an audit of the carbon farming initiative. The Authority's research and publication role is necessary to finding the most equitable, cost-effective solutions to the global warming challenges that confront our society and our economy.

1.5        To provide a recent example of the important function that the Authority provides, their report on the Renewable Energy Target was consultation-based and fact driven to recommend that the 41,000 gigawatt target be retained for the benefit of consumers, investors, employment, competition and our climate.

1.6        This report can be contrasted with the government's initiated review. The appointed chair of the panel, Mr Dick Warburton, is a climate denier with no experience in energy markets, while not one other member of the panel has any knowledge or experience in renewable energy. They were put there by the government to recommend a foregone conclusion: to weaken or repeal the Renewable Energy Act 2001 because it is threatening the viability of incumbent fossil fuel generators of electricity.

1.7        Without the Authority's preceding report, a casual observer could be forgiven for believing that the government's inquiry was evidence-based and impartial. The Authority is obliged by law to complete another review of the RET by the end of 2014. The contrasting results between these two reviews of 2014 will reiterate the importance of independent and open advice to legislators.

1.8        The Australian Greens look forward to the future contributions the Authority will make to climate policy in Australia and therefore recommend opposing the bill in its entirety.

Senator Christine Milne                                                  Senator Larissa Waters
Leader of the Australian Greens                                   Senator for Queensland

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