THE REALITY OF NO CLIMATE POLICY UNDER THE LIBERALS

Over the weekend, a number of Morrison Government Ministers have repeated the lie that Australia is “on track” to meet its international climate commitments.

The truth is that the Liberals have no climate policy and no way to contain, let alone reduce, Australia’s rising carbon pollution levels.

They have a target of a 5 per cent cut in emissions by 2020.

But the Morrison Government’s own data, snuck out in the days before Christmas, showed there would be a 0 per cent cut in pollution by 2020.

They have committed to the Paris Agreement with a 26-28 per cent reduction by 2030 on 2005 levels.

But the same government data showed there would only be a slim ­4 per centcut in pollution by 2030 - missing our international commitments by a whopping 24 per cent.

And this was all before the Liberals junked the emissions reduction component of the National Energy Guarantee - walking away from any plan to cut pollution in the electricity sector, which is responsible for one third of all of Australia’s emissions and has the lowest cost of cutting pollution.

The international community is becoming increasingly alarmed at Australia’s complete lack of responsibility and credibility, with the European Union and our neighbours in the Pacific demanding the Government take action to reduce pollution, not just repeat empty promises.

The fact is Prime Minister Morrison has the same position as Peter Dutton when it comes to action on climate change, but by flagging dropping out of Paris, at least Peter Dutton was honest about his opposition to climate action. Prime Minister Morrison’s lip service of saying Australia is committed to our Paris Targets is worthless given he has no policy to actually back that up.

Combating climate change is a Labor priority. It’s time the Liberals got out of the way.