Coalition Energy and Climate Policy Announcement (Proposed)

Proposed Statement for the Leader of the Opposition

After extensive consideration, consultation, and analysis, the Coalition is today announcing a new direction for Australia’s Energy and Climate Policy — one that is pragmatic, responsible, and grounded in Australia’s national interest.

Our current energy policy was established in a very different time. Years ago, global leaders and policymakers agreed that countries not committing to Net Zero emissions would face punitive trade measures — tariffs and restrictions from the European Union and potentially the United States. At that time, Australia’s decision to join that commitment was driven by a genuine desire to safeguard our prosperity and ensure our exporters were not disadvantaged.

But the world has changed.

Today, over two-thirds of global emissions come from nations that have made no commitment to Net Zero — and many are actively expanding fossil fuel generation.
Even more striking, several countries that once led the charge toward Net Zero have walked back their promises, recognising the economic and social costs of policies that move faster than technology, infrastructure, or public consent can sustain.

While those shifting global realities are important, they are not the central reason for our policy reset.

Our new position has been guided by two uncontestable facts:

1. Australia accounts for just over 1% of global emissions.
   This means that even if we were to reduce our emissions to zero tomorrow, it would make no measurable difference to the global climate. No Australian policy — no matter how ambitious or costly — can alter the trajectory of global warming.

2. The current push for rapid decarbonisation is inflicting enormous costs — financial, environmental, and social.
   The investment required for new transmission networks, large-scale solar and wind developments, and the destruction of valuable farmland and natural landscapes is immense.
   Across the world, every attempt at accelerated decarbonisation has driven soaring electricity prices, forced manufacturing industries offshore, and increased the cost of living for working families.

These realities cannot be ignored.

They have driven the Coalition to develop a new, balanced, and forward-looking energy policy — one that secures affordable power, protects jobs, and ensures energy reliability.

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Our Policy

When the Coalition is elected, we will take the following actions:

1. Suspend Australia’s commitment to Net Zero emissions.
   We will pause this target until there is a clear and credible global framework that includes all major emitters.

2. Phase out subsidies for renewable projects over 12 months.
   We believe the renewable sector is mature enough to compete without taxpayer support. Energy generation should be driven by efficiency, not ideology.

3. Remove all restrictions on energy sources and allow the market to decide.
   Australia’s energy mix will be determined by cost, reliability, and performance — not by government mandates.

4. Repeal all laws preventing the use of nuclear energy.
   Australia must have access to the same low-emissions baseload technologies available to other advanced economies. We will establish a regulatory framework for safe, modern, and economically viable nuclear generation.

5. Prevent the premature closure of existing power stations.
   No coal or gas facility will close until equivalent or greater baseload capacity is available. We will work constructively with operators to extend the life of existing assets where feasible, including the provision of transitional funding to ensure reliability.

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A Shift in Focus: From Decarbonisation to Mitigation

While we are suspending our drive toward Net Zero, this does not mean we are abandoning action on climate change.
It is a recognition that Australia cannot change the climate — but we can protect our people and economy from its effects.

Our focus will be on mitigation:

• Strengthening infrastructure and disaster resilience.

• Supporting farmers and regional communities to adapt to changing conditions.

• Ensuring that Australian manufacturing remains strong and competitive, providing the jobs and revenue needed to fund real, practical climate adaptation measures.

By stepping back from Labor’s reckless and costly pursuit of Net Zero, we can redirect billions of dollars into measures that genuinely protect Australians — rather than wasting them on policies that make no global difference but inflict real domestic pain.

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A Practical Path Forward

This is a policy based on honesty, responsibility, and national interest.
It recognises the limits of our influence, the reality of the global energy landscape, and the importance of affordable, reliable power for every Australian household and business.

The Coalition invites constructive discussion on this proposal as a sensible way forward — one that restores balance, protects Australian livelihoods, and ensures our nation remains strong and secure in an uncertain world.