Scott Morrison’s remorseless focus on Labor’s costs outweighed climate concerns
 Times 20th May 2019, Australia’s jubilant conservatives have credited their unexpected election win to a remorseless questioning of the costs of Labor’s green policies. Labor went into polling day as overwhelming favourites, armed with a range of plans for emissions cuts and government spending plans designed to combat climate change.Voters, however, re-elected Scott Morrison’s centre-right Liberal-led coalition, which offered comparatively modest countermeasures, despite Australia being gripped by drought after its hottest summer on record.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/uncosted-climate-policies-send-labor-to-shock-defeat-gc0z830pc |
UK’s moderate Conservatives put climate action as top priority
Guardian 19th May 2019 , Moderate Conservatives including Nicky Morgan and Amber Rudd are
urging contenders for their party’s leadership to put the battle against the climate emergency at the forefront of the contest.
The 60-strong One Nation group of senior Tories, created as a bulwark against what they perceive as their party’s lurch to the right, is calling for the environment to form a central part of the leadership debate. The heat is on over the climate crisis. Only radical measures will work.
UK’s Times sees environment as a “vote-loser” in Australian election, despite record heat
Times 20th May 2019 The environment could be a vote loser if it is associated only with economic cost. In the Australian election what happened to Tony Abbott was supposed to be a metaphor for the campaign as a whole. In Warringah, the
former Liberal prime minister lost his seat to Zali Steggall, a climate change activist. Australia has just endured its hottest ever summer and storms and dengue fever are turning up in new locations.
This was supposed to be the first election in which climate change was the decisive issue. In the event, the ruling Liberal-National coalition is close to securing the 76 seats needed for a majority in the House of Representatives. The coalition – which has been, to say the least, inactive on climate change – had been trailing for three years and the exit polls handed the victory to Labor, which had run on a programme of higher taxes and lower emissions. In the immediate aftermath of their defeat Labour strategists admitted they did not know what had hit them.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0573748a-7a5a-11e9-bed7-b51375720f1f
France’s Citizens’ Convention for the Climate
Times 20th May 2019 , France will enter new democratic territory next month when 150 randomlyselected citizens will be asked to overhaul the country’s environmental policies, President Macron’s government
announced yesterday.for the Climate is being organised in an attempt to meet yellow-vest protesters’ demands for MPs to be bypassed in a move towards direct democracy.
Energy Insiders Podcast: What’s the future for renewables in Australia? — RenewEconomy
Is Australia’s clean energy transition about to come to a crashing halt, or just hit a pause as the Coalition turns focus to coal? Clean Energy Council’s Kane Thornton discusses Morrison’s big win. The post Energy Insiders Podcast: What’s the future for renewables in Australia? appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via Energy Insiders Podcast: What’s the future for renewables in Australia? — RenewEconomy
Australian EV industry faces 12 month policy wait — RenewEconomy
Election means Australia’s electric vehicle industry – and consumers – will have to wait at least another 12 months for federal government to deliver EV strategy. The post Australian EV industry faces 12 month policy wait appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via Australian EV industry faces 12 month policy wait — RenewEconomy
May 20 Energy News — geoharvey
Opinion: ¶ “Don’t despair about the climate emergency. Coal is not the future” • The Coalition government has been re-elected. But there are strong international pressures, most of the Australian business community does not want the economy stuck in the past, and the states will not accept a vacuum on climate and energy policy. [The […]
Denial and confusion live on, as energy hopes turn to states and AEMO — RenewEconomy
Coalition’s surprise win means focus turns to the states, the corporate sector and the Australian Energy Market Operator. Where does its blue-print for the future take us now? The post Denial and confusion live on, as energy hopes turn to states and AEMO appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via Denial and confusion live on, as energy hopes turn to states and AEMO — RenewEconomy
Redflow cracks China battery market, with deal on EV charging station — RenewEconomy
Australia’s Redflow tapped to supply 100kWh of its ZBM2 zinc bromine flow batteries for a solar and electric vehicle smart grid project in China. The post Redflow cracks China battery market, with deal on EV charging station appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via Redflow cracks China battery market, with deal on EV charging station — RenewEconomy
From Dave Sweeney – – a few thoughts after a bruising election.
This was a deeply disappointing result: Fear and loathing rewarded and so much that could be, won’t be. At least for now.
But – not all was bad. There are bright stars in a dark night sky – and they can help us navigate to a different future.
- The new Senate is not a rubber stamp
- There are two new strong climate independents in the House of Reps and there are other strong voicers on the House cross bench
- Tony Abbott is gone
- Fraser Anning is gone: a man who happily stood alongside saluting fascists is out of public life
- Climate change and energy policy is on the radar and is not going to go away
- One of the worst things about a result like this is the way it makes you think badly about the people you see on the train, at the shops, at the footy. It is worth remembering that the Greens vote held – despite Palmer’s $70m ad spend, the number of Australians that voted Greens was one-third bigger than the number that voted for UAP & One Nation combined
- UAP’s $70m ad push focused on three things (anti-Shorten, fear about China, pro-nuclear power) and it did not win him a single seat. A massive loser at this election was nuclear power: the UAP result is a clear rejection of a reactor powered future.
Change is not quick or easy. It seems to take forever and then it moves rapidly – look at the fall of the Berlin Wall, majority rule in South Africa, the emergence of Timor Leste. We need the courage and the resilience to continue to hope and to act.
This election result should have been far, far better. It also could have been much worse.
We are where we are – and we work with what we have. And we work constantly and creatively to protect and grow those people and places that we value and love – and reduce radioactive risk. There is no greater or more important mission.
MORRISON WOULD RATHER GIVE GREEN LIGHT TO NUCLEAR OVER SOLAR
https://www.pennywong.com.au/media-releases/morrison-would-rather-give-green-light-to-nuclear-over-solar/?fbclid=IwAR3YVe9E5_QsFkEOO_C1rPQUllcK-c-mhNmKECufgKWHwI_hv0zUBOgV5RQ Noah Carroll, 8 October 2018 The Prime Minister has become so desperate to find any energy policy he today refused to rule out building nuclear power stations across Australia – including in areas bordering his own electorate.
Mr Morrison today told Alan Jones there is “absolutely no reason why, when it’s economic, we shouldn’t have nuclear power generation in Australia.”
According to a report from the Australian Institute about where nuclear power would be located, Botany Bay, neighbouring Morrison’s own electorate, could be a likely candidate for a nuclear reactor. Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, the Sunshine Coast and Bribie Island were also named as possible locations.
Scott Morrison would rather put nuclear reactors up and down the east coast of Australia, instead of investing in solar and admitting that renewables are cheaper and cleaner.
This in spite of all the evidence nuclear power is actually much more expensive than renewable energy and would lead to higher prices.
Mr Morrison also seems blind to the well documented safety risks of nuclear power, highlighted by events like the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Mr Morrison’s bizarre thought bubble confirms the Liberals will support any form of power generation as long as it is not the proven and sensible forms of renewable energy like wind and solar power.
Rather than floating nuclear power balloons, the Prime Minister should end his government’s war on renewable energy — the cheapest and cleanest power available.
Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is adamant that there will be no increase in climate action from this government
Our plan is very clear’: No climate revamp for re-elected Coalition, Australians should not expect any change to the 
Liberal-National government’s climate change policies after their federal election win. SBS, 20 May19
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has hosed down any suggestion that the Coalition will be going back to the drawing board on climate change after the government’s come-from-behind election win.
“Our plan is very clear and it’s the plan that we took to the Australian people,” he told ABC’s Insiders on Sunday. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has hosed down any suggestion that the Coalition will be going back to the drawing board on climate change after the government’s come-from-behind election win.
“Our plan is very clear and it’s the plan that we took to the Australian people,” he told ABC’s Insiders on Sunday.
Mr Frydenberg was among Coalition members who faced a swing against them on Saturday, in the face of challenges from independent or Green candidates campaigning largely on climate change.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott lost his seat to Independent Zali Steggallfor whom climate change was pivotal.
As the results rolled in, outgoing MP Julie Bishop said the Coalition must reassess its position on climate change and possibly revisit former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s signature energy policy.
“It will have to end the uncertainty and the National Energy Guarantee was the closest thing we had to a bipartisan position.” …..
Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek hopes the government finally grapples with climate and energy with a policy aimed at bringing down pollution, reducing power prices and boosting investment in renewables.
“How is this government going to manage that when they are still so broken inside with climate change deniers on one side and people who at least accept the science on the other side, but 14 different energy policies?” https://www.sbs.com.au/news/our-plan-is-very-clear-no-climate-revamp-for-re-elected-coalition
Environmentalists shocked at election result, but resolute
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After the climate election: shellshocked green groups remain resolute, Guardian, Paul Karp 20 May 19,
Environmentalists reject suggestions tactics such as the Stop Adani convoy cost Labor the election The environmental movement drew first blood on election night by helping independent Zali Steggall oust Tony Abbott but, in the end, the Coalition – which rated a miserable 4% on the Australian Conservation Foundation’sclimate change scorecard – won.After the unexpected result environmentalists have questioned whether their campaign tactics need revision or whether the progressive side of politics was let down by other factors.The Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive, Kelly O’Shanassy, told Guardian Australia climate “was definitely a top issue in the election … but it didn’t convert to votes in all the places it needed to”…….. in Queensland, Nationals MPs including Michelle Landry and George Christensen are prepared to heap the blame – or more accurately, the credit for the conservatives’ strong vote in central Queensland – on campaigns like Stop Adani and particularly the convoy organised by the Bob Brown Foundation. …… in Queensland, Nationals MPs including Michelle Landry and George Christensen are prepared to heap the blame – or more accurately, the credit for the conservatives’ strong vote in central Queensland – on campaigns like Stop Adani and particularly the convoy organised by the Bob Brown Foundation. …….. GetUp’s exit polling found climate change was the voters’ top issue in Warringah, where Tony Abbott lost to Zali Steggall, in Josh Frydenberg’s seat of Kooyong and in Menzies. Independents including Steggall and Helen Haines in Indi and the Centre Alliance’s Rebekha Sharkie in Mayo all want a better climate policy and there were swings to Labor in inner-city Melbourne. Paul Oosting, the national director of GetUp, said “the leading climate denier Tony Abbott was unseated”. “It’s clear the Coalition aren’t meeting the public’s expectations and need to change their approach or face more Warringahs.” Schneiders said it would be “unwise for the prime minister not to recognise his government is very vulnerable on the environment”. The Coalition may feel “they’ve had a happy day now – but the job just gets harder again as soon as they get sworn in”. “It’s a tactical win – the problem hasn’t gone away.” O’Shanassy said concern about climate change “goes across political lines”. During door-knocking in the electorate of Chisholm, eight out of 10 voters committed to consider the climate, including Liberal voters. So while the Liberal party retained most of its blue-ribbon seats, like Higgins and Kooyong, O’Shanassy said there is “rising concern from Liberal voters” that the party will need to take seriously – in the same way the state election drubbing in Victoria sparked a flurry of environmental policy announcements from Scott Morrison. “There’s no doubt the Morrison government needs to deal with climate and energy – and they won’t be able to continue to put it in the too-hard basket.”…… https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/may/20/after-the-climate-election-shellshocked-green-groups-remain-resolute |
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What to expect from Coalition: Coal, coal, coal and a battle over NEG — RenewEconomy
Coalition digs in for a fight for coal, as speculation grows on whether Taylor and Price will continue in key portfolios, and who might replace them. The post What to expect from Coalition: Coal, coal, coal and a battle over NEG appeared first on RenewEconomy.
via What to expect from Coalition: Coal, coal, coal and a battle over NEG — RenewEconomy
Crossbenchers put climate on agenda
SBS 20 May 19, New independent MP Helen Haines says she doesn’t intend to operate in a bloc with other crossbenchers, saying she runs her own race in Indi., The Victorian seat of Indi’s likely new independent MP Helen Haines says she doesn’t intend to operate as a bloc with fellow crossbenchers, but expects they’ll work together on issues such as climate change.
Ms Haines looks set to take the seat that was previously held by independent Cathy McGowan, winning almost 52 per cent of the vote so far after preferences.
It would make her the first independent to succeed another independent in a seat……..
“I’m not operating as a bloc with the other independents. I very much run my own race in Indi,” she said.
“There’s no doubt, though, that we do see eye-to-eye on action on climate. I think climate is the one that we will be collaborating very closely on the crossbench.”……. https://www.sbs.com.au/news/crossbenchers-put-climate-on-agenda
1 This month.
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