A lot of news at the moment concerning matters pertinent to this blog, with Christian Porter announcing yesterday he will not contest the election, Greg Hunt universally expected to follow suit with today’s last parliamentary sitting day of the year, and voter identification legislation scuttled after a deal between government and opposition.
• Annabel Hennessy of The West Australian reports a nominee has already come forward for Liberal preselection in Christian Porter’s loseable northern Perth seat of Pearce: Miquela Riley, a former naval officer and current PwC Australia manager who performed a thankless task as the party’s candidate for Fremantle at the March state election. Other potential nominees identified are Libby Lyons, former director of the Australian Government’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency, and Alyssa Hayden, who held the state seat of Darling Range from 2018 until her defeat in March and was earlier in the Legislative Council from 2009 to 2017.
• The most widely named successor to Greg Hunt as Liberal candidate for the Victorian seat of Flinders is Zoe McKenzie, an NBN Co director and former chief-of-staff to Abbott-Turnbull government Trade Minister Andrew Robb. The Age reports other potential starters are Mark Brudenell, chief-of-staff at Latitude Financial and former adviser to Malcolm Turnbull as both Communications Minister and Prime Minister, and Simon Breheny, former Institute of Public Affairs policy director.
• A deal between government and opposition has resulted in the abandonment of plans to introduce voter identification at the coming election. In exchange, Labor has agreed to support a bill that will halve the expenditure threshold at which third parties will have to file disclosure returns, over the objections of critics who argue the associated red tape will discourage charities from political campaigning. It appeared unlikely the voter identification bill would have gained the required votes in the Senate, with Jacqui Lambie having announced yesterday she would vote against it.
• Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats are pursuing a High Court action against recently enacted legislation that will prevent parties other than the main ones having words like Liberal and Labor in their name. Absent a favourable outcome, this will presumably result in formal challenges against the Liberal Democrats and the New Liberals, the latter of whom have withdrawn their application to change their name simply to TNL.
“If only the greens could be trusted.”
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As the only party that takes the climate emergency seriously, there is no more trustworthy option than the Greens. If someone votes for us, they know they are voting for a party which will always put people and the planet before the interests of the big polluters.
“Clever politics by labor. I may have wished for a more aggressive target but this 43% is clever. ”
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Cowardly politics is how I would describe it. Completely counterproductive and nonsensical. An utter betrayal of the planet and all those who care about it.
sprocket_
Thanks for that link. I haven’t studies the detail yet, but I note that it is a 40 page report and not a 4 page blue pamphlet.
Firefox
I think the Greens have done well to keep the Climate Emergency front of mind with the series of stunts, but it is time to move on into real action. Labor has a modelled plan you should take the time to read..
Or at least look at some of the charts
https://keystone-alp.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/prod/61a966013f3c53001f975016-REPUTEX_The%20economic%20impact%20of%20the%20ALP's%20Powering%20Australia%20Plan_Summary%20Report.pdf
“As the only party that takes the climate emergency seriously, there is no more trustworthy option than the Greens. If someone votes for us, they know they are voting for a party which will always put people and the planet before the interests of the big polluters.”
On policy you are 85% right. On politics you’d think the greens had outsourced tactics and strategy to the NSW branch of the ALP
For the record the 15% deduction is for the element of the greens that likes to tell the mortgage belt they have to turn off their aircon in summer from million dollar properties with solar panels batteries and probably a small staff
WeWantPaul
I don’t deny the urgency of the task, but Labor first has to solve the political problem before it can solve the policy problem.
To be perfectly honest, I’m surprised the Greens don’t have a policy to reduce emissions by 100% by January 01 2022 – it would be popular with their supporters and they’d never actually have to deliver. Win-win!
And there’s your problem. Millions of people vs. the planet.
lizzie at 2:36 pm
Labor could set a target of 23% and he’d still be out there claiming Labor’s policy will increase electricity prices.
lizziesays:
Friday, December 3, 2021 at 2:25 pm
Themunz
“I was going to say the same thing. Very narrow focus and not worthy of the blog.”
The ALP has applied the pressure and the pips continue to squeak.
Firefox:
Friday, December 3, 2021 at 3:15 pm
[‘Cowardly politics is how I would describe it. Completely counterproductive and nonsensical. An utter betrayal of the planet and all those who care about it.’]
A seven percent reduction where we are about one twentieth of what China emits is not the end of the world. And please don’t refer to per capita emissions; it’s is the overall emmissions that count. Please stop making a mountain out of a molehill. It’s the intransigence of The Greens that make them popular with only ten per cent of the electorate.
The Greens have failed to build the constituency needed for the macroeconomic reform required to reduce emissions – Stop Adani earrings might look cool, but the emitters don’t give a rats.
On Industry Policy, the Business Council of Australia and the Industry Australia Group have been pushing a version of capping emissions, namely the Safeguards Mechanism. You can read about it on pages 20-26 of the ALP Plan.
poroti
You’re right. He only has a few lines, and repeats them endlessly.
The big breakthrough that wins them the Eurovision song contest, followed by a decade of spectacular success and global stardom?
The ghost of “No regrets” still haunts Labor policy 30+ years on.
https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/media/pressrel/2209922/upload_binary/2209922.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22media/pressrel/2209922%22
Mavis @ #849 Friday, December 3rd, 2021 – 3:09 pm
Not in our locality he wasn’t. Never saw or heard from him once.
Mind you, as I said, we were a little preoccupied at the time.
The arrogant attitude of some Greens supporters seems to suggest that if only they could hold the balance of power with the LNP, they could change the world.
“I think the Greens have done well to keep the Climate Emergency front of mind with the series of stunts, but it is time to move on into real action. ”
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This reminds me of Abbott’s old “real action” slogan. Labor is going to need to do more than come up with slogans and a few graphs to convince people who care about the climate that they’re the best option – a half decent policy which takes the issue seriously might be a good place to start.
The Greens have the runs on the board when it comes to taking action to address the climate emergency. We took the ETS to the 2010 Election and got it implemented as a result of being in the balance of power. People know that they can trust us to protect the planet.
Firefox @ #852 Friday, December 3rd, 2021 – 3:15 pm
Cynical politics is how I would describe it.
Labor is promising nothing, and expecting to be applauded for it.
Firefox, and what happened to your ETS in 2013? And where is it today.
“On policy you are 85% right. On politics you’d think the greens had outsourced tactics and strategy to the NSW branch of the ALP”
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As someone who has experienced the tactics and strategies employed by some in NSW Labor, let me assure you that that is not the case. I’ve said it before, NSW Labor is the blueprint for bad politics in Australia. They should be flying high at the moment considering how woeful the NSW Libs have been but they’re still pretty much invisible.
I hear Firefox, P1 and Bakunin asking ‘What about jobs? What does the Labor Plan mean for jobs?’
Glad you asked.
604,000 new jobs. Count ‘em 604,000 new jobs by 2030, with 5 out of 6 in Regional Areas p7 of plan.
https://keystone-alp.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/prod/61a966013f3c53001f975016-REPUTEX_The%20economic%20impact%20of%20the%20ALP's%20Powering%20Australia%20Plan_Summary%20Report.pdf
“Firefox, and what happened to your ETS in 2013? And where is it today.”
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Abbott the wrecker happened. Unfortunately, he was gifted power on a silver platter by Labor after they spent three long years destroying themselves over their leadership.
Well, it looks as though Antic’s antics have gotten poor old Scott into another pickle by telling everybody that his senator from SA was double vaccinated when he wasn’t.
i do hope that Antic enjoys his two weeks in hotel quarantine.
sprocket
Hang in there. I can’t take any more.
“What does the Labor Plan mean for jobs?”
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Good news folks! Adani is hiring!
No, seriously, they are: https://www.bravus.com.au/work-with-us/
Firefox says:
Friday, December 3, 2021 at 3:00 pm
How does Labor winning government and then continuing to vandalise the environment help address the climate emergency? It doesn’t. The only way the government will take serious action is if the Greens are in the balance of power making it happen.
___________________________________________________________
Labor has pledged to invest in green technology, aiming to make the grid as renewable as possible. Labor is already signed up to encouraging the use of electric vehicles. Albanese has already said there is little chance of business investing in new coal mines and coal-fired power stations. In other words, get on board with the future.
Okay, not as ambitious as the Greens, but it’s unlikely that any Labor policy would satisfy them. It is also absurd to say Labor would do nothing about the environment, particularly when the bulk of its own base want it to do just that. A point the Greens sometimes overlook.
As to whether it would be best if Labor was in minority government and dependent on the Greens, it might work out. I’m not as alarmed as some others are by the prospect. But I would hope the Greens realise that even that government would have to survive if it were to do any good.
After all, the last such government implemented a good carbon pricing policy, only to have it demonised and then demolished as soon as that government lost office.
sprocket_ @ #873 Friday, December 3rd, 2021 – 3:41 pm
I didn’t ask about jobs. I don’t care about jobs. Jobs can be created in other ways. What about emissions?
A 1% reduction? So for climate change we have instead a jobs policy?
Can’t wait for Labor to unveil their jobs policy! My bet is on a 20% emissions reduction!
Perhaps the Greens commenters are struggling with the modelling, all those jargon, graphs and tables are admittedly confusing.
Try reading Albo’s ‘plain English’ version..
https://anthonyalbanese.com.au/our-policies/powering-australia
Ambitious Australian targets on their own make squat difference to global atmospheric greenhouse gases.
Ambitious targets are taken to COP up your sleeve as a means of providing sufficient global pressure to obtain binding agreements from the big polluters – not so much taken to elections. Morrison squibbed it this year (and the LNP squibbed it for the last 8 years). If the ALP win the next election they need to ensure Australia starts catching up so they arent left behind (on carbon import duties etc) and be ready to up it when the push is on at subsequent COPs if it looks like the players are playing.
The Liberal party and Murdoch, with their near decade of inaction, support for fossil fuels and scaremongering have election-proofed Australia leading by example on climate for at least 3 years. I wish it werent so. Hopefully, with a new government, thh states and the BCA already on board the ‘catchup’ might over achieve.
People have had enough of the climate war. Another election fought on it is fraught with unpleasant possibilities. The ALP just need to win and then get on with it.
Every time you think they can’t make worse decisions…
So I will play along. Labor takes this very soft incremental policy to the election and them backflips or is dragged to good policy by greens and / or indies.
When does the winning hearts and minds thing happen and how does it work such that they aren’t destroyed 2 1/2 years later by those voters who trusted the election winning message.
Seems like a deliberate strategy to recreate the Gillard carbon tax disaster.
But tell me how it will work this time?
You wouldn’t understand Paul. Labor is playing 43D chess here. Unless they end up losing anyway of course, in which case it will naturally be the Greens’ fault. Again.
Sir Henry Parkes @ #878 Friday, December 3rd, 2021 – 3:46 pm
So, the key takeaway from today’s big announcement is that Labor’s strategy is … wait for it …
“Technology, not Taxes”
Now, where have I heard that one before? Just give me a minute … 🙁
” In other words, get on board with the future.”
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Except Labor has been teaming up with the Coalition to put the brakes on EVs. Labor also supports coal beyond 2050.
Labor likes to talk a big game on climate but when it comes to action they are a party of the past with their heads in the sand.
If Labor was getting on board with the future, they’d be backing the science and would have a serious policy similar to that of the Greens.
Who would invest time reading a PR piece where you know it is both a PR piece and the bottom line is already known to be ‘what the States were doing anyway plus almost nothing else’.
Seems that kind of masochist should just come here and post for a bit.
Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie:
Labor’s plan helps bridge the gap between the Morrison government’s do nothing approach, and state government and business leaders who are forging ahead to create jobs and grow our nation’s prosperity by slashing emissions this decade.
Right now, our country is the worst performing of all developed countries when it comes to cutting greenhouse gas emissions and moving beyond fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. Labor’s plan is a major improvement, but it will need to be strengthened significantly to genuinely tackle climate change.
We know how dangerous global warming is because we’re being slammed by megafires like the Black Summer and extreme flooding. Our very way of life, and everything we love about this great country, is in danger from unchecked climate change.
What city have Labor wiped off the map now?
Your comments on Labor’s policy on EVs are based on ignorance, Firefox.
Only 3 pages – pp28-30 – on know you can read. The same/same schtick demonstrates ignorance
https://keystone-alp.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/prod/61a966013f3c53001f975016-REPUTEX_The%20economic%20impact%20of%20the%20ALP's%20Powering%20Australia%20Plan_Summary%20Report.pdf
I dunno WWP.
I feel a lot has changed since 2010. There are more partners coming along for the ride. There is a groundswell. And yes, technology has advanced in some sectors. So, I dont think climate policy needs big levers like a carbon tax anymore that the (hopefully) LNP opposition can latch onto.
The NSW government needs incentives to help them open up the big renewable projects they claim to be keen on. That alone will be a huge blow to coal generator. Add some more interconnectors. Incentivise community batteries. There are other things like this the ALP can do. Building stuff. Incentivise building stuff.
Ag emissions will be hard.
I just hope the EPA policy is still in. I will be gropeable if not.
“But tell me how it will work this time?”
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Labor needs to be honest with people and take a serious climate policy into the election. Argue the case for change like the Greens do. Don’t say you’ll take these weak policies to the election then change them once you get in, take strong policies to the election instead. Gain a mandate for taking serious action, just as the Greens did in 2010.
The Greens are being upfront and honest with people. We are saying that we will push the government further if we are in a position to do so.
Stuart:
Gee, it isn’t like Scotty to screw himself over with a completely unnecessary lie.
He’s like a real-life Basil Fawlty.
The Independents want to have a 60% reduction by 2030, but they have no policies to achieve instead they want another body to decide….
Atleast Labor is coming to a target based on actual policies to achieve it.
So if you vote for Greens or Independents, you have no idea how its gonna be achieved. But you can feel warm and fuzzy about a higher target
The over the top hysterical reaction to Labor’s CC policy is about what I expected from the usual suspects here. Labor’s objective is to win the next Federal Election. The CC policy seems to have been carefully crafted to peeve the ever peeved, feed the egos of the self righteous Greens and really get the disaffected dancing and hand wringing.
In short, it seems to have been received exceptionally well and is one more step in the process of Labor gaining office at the next Federal Election.
While the Greens and other zealots are trying to prove their virtue., Albo and Labor are doing what they need to do to win.
lizzie @ #883 Friday, December 3rd, 2021 – 3:52 pm
*ABC invites protester onto The Drum to discuss their side of the debate in the interests of fairness and balance*
Well it is easy to pick the liberal, labor and Green supporters. The noise, oh the noise over a number. No comment o the rational contained in the documents released. I look forward to reading them tonight.
The Greens stunt this election is going to be a convoy of camels into the Heart to tell Indigenous people they are wRONg.