Coalition’s plan to prolong coal a “triumph of ideology” over science and public interest

Environment Victoria Campaigns Manager Dr Nicholas Aberle today said:

“If accurate, today’s news that Malcolm Turnbull’s energy plan will abandon a Clean Energy Target and include measures to keep open old and polluting coal-burning power stations confirm the Coalition’s capitulation to the hard Right in the government party room.

“In the past five years, the Coalition has scrapped laws that were reducing pollution and encouraging investment in clean energy, cut the Renewable Energy Target and destabilised the industry, ignored the central recommendation of Professor Finkel’s report and pressured AGL to keep open Liddell power station.

“Fairfax is reporting that the Prime Minister’s energy plan would encourage ageing power stations like Yallourn and Liddell to stay open and keep polluting. Coal-burning power stations are the largest source of climate pollution in Australia.

“Trying to keep dirty coal power stations open for longer would be a triumph of ideology over science and the public interest.

“If this is indeed Malcolm Turnbull’s plan, it shows once and for all that his government has no real intention of dealing with the climate crisis we are facing. Australians deserve better.”