16th Mar 2016, 5:40 PM – Senate Motions - Renewable Energy - Energy retailers

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Greens Senator Richard Di Natale

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) clean energy is the key to Australia's future prosperity and supports the jobs, investment and technological innovation that is created in Australia through clean energy technologies,

(ii) Australia was on track to achieve around 28 per cent of its electricity sourced from clean energy in the year 2020 until the Government and Opposition voted together to lower the target to 23 per cent in June 2015, and

(iii) as a result of Australia being the first country in the world to have reduced its legislated renewable energy aspirations, no wave of new jobs and construction have commenced 9 months after the passage of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Act 2015 (the Act), despite significant global capital seeking to invest in the energy systems of the future; and

(b) urges energy retailers, Origin Energy and Energy Australia to make their intentions clear whether they will facilitate the imminent construction of new Australian clean energy projects or whether they will pass the penalty price for non-compliance with the Act onto their Australian customers.