MEDIA ALERT
For Immediate Release
Government Will Negotiate on Passage of Renewable Energy Targets
ADELAIDE, 3rd May 2010
:
The Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water, Penny Wong, told a packed house at
Australia’s biggest ever clean energy conference today that the Federal Government will negotiate
with major parties on the passage of amendments to the Renewable Energy Target (RET) legislation.
Speaking at the Clean Energy Council conference in Adelaide, Minister Wong said the Government is
open to continuing negotiations in parliament to pass the RET amendments, provided the
amendments meet certain criteria.
“The government is prepared to negotiate with the opposition and the cross-benchers to achieve
passage of the bill - but on the basis that any amendment they propose must assist in meeting
Australia’s 20 per cent renewable energy target, should help unlock investment in renewable energy
and be economically responsible, fair and efficient,” Minister Wong said.
“Over the next couple of years we need to work at rebuilding the consensus in this country on
climate action and making it stronger than ever.”
“I look forward to all political parties being able to set aside differences on climate change to
support this legislation in the national interest in the winter session of the parliament,” she said.
Minister Wong’s comments followed a keynote presentation by AGL Chief Executive, Michael Fraser,
who said the RET reforms were essential to providing stability and certainty for Australia’s
renewable energy sector.
“It is critical that these reforms are legislated as soon as Parliament resumes. The reforms have
always had bi-partisan support so there is no reason the legislation should not be passed
immediately,” Mr Fraser said.
Commencing today in Adelaide and running until Wednesday, the Clean Energy Council conference
is the biggest renewable energy conference in Australia’s history, with more than 700 delegates
gathered to prepare for a multi-billion dollar expansion of the clean energy industry over the next
decade.
Media Enquiries: Mark Bretherton - 0413 556 981 or Ben Eade - 0406 641 881
The Clean Energy Council is the peak body for the clean energy sector. It is working with all Australian
governments to drive the development of clean energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, hydro,
wave, bioenergy and cogeneration.
Suite 201, 18 Kavanagh Street, Southbank 3006, Australia
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info@cleanenergycouncil.org.au
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