THE PRICE OF DOING NOTHING

Release of Senate Estimates Questions on Notice has revealed the Turnbull Government spent $1.7 million on their Finkel Review only to ignore its one key recommendation; a Clean Energy Target.

The Chief Scientist and his panel consulted with industry, businesses and experts around the country and overseas. They held public forums in every jurisdiction of the National Electricity Market. Their recommendation of a Clean Energy Target would provide support for the transition to affordable, reliable, renewable energy that would lower power bills and end the investment uncertainty crippling new electricity generation investment.

Even Malcolm Turnbull was initially supportive of a Clean Energy Target, saying it “has a lot of merit and as I say we will look at it very favourably.”

But when Malcolm Turnbull had a choice between doing the right thing for the country according to the careful analysis of the country’s Chief Scientist, and doing what Tony Abbott and his acolytes want based on their view that climate change action is akin to pagan goat sacrifice, this out of touch Prime Minister once again sided with Tony Abbott.
 
 Turnbull spent $1.7 million (the equivalent of the average monthly Sydney power bill for over 10,000 families) on the most detailed and expert advice available, only to ignore it in preference for a coal-fired future for Australia.