“Continuing development of the National Energy Guarantee was a positive step today towards cementing a durable framework for energy and climate . But the COAG Energy Council will soon have to make a real decision or risk condemning Australian industry to years more of damaging uncertainty,” Australian Industry Group Chief Executive Innes Willox said.
“We welcome the decision of Victoria, Queensland and the ACT to allow policy development of the NEG to continue. In mid-September, the critical legislation to amend the National Electricity Law will be ready for a real decision. That decision should be to approve the Guarantee mechanism and commence implementation.
“Only the COAG Energy Council has the power to actually finalise the Guarantee mechanism. Only the Federal Parliament has the power to actually agree an emissions reduction target, and that outcome can be revisited whenever the Parliament wishes. No good purpose is served by making one element of the package hostage to the other. An agreement as quickly as possible is to the benefit of all, especially Australian employers and their workforces who are being put at risk by indecision,” Mr Willox said.