More fossil fuel gas no solution for climate or energy - Federal Coalition still without a plan to protect Australia’s climate

Climate advocacy organisation Solutions for Climate Australia today slammed the Federal

Liberal-National Party for announcing they wanted to spend taxpayer money to expand and

imbed the use of expensive fossil fuel gas in electricity production.

‘The mining and burning of gas produces huge volumes of climate pollution. We need to

systematically phase it out of use. It is also hugely expensive - it’s the most expensive source of

electricity in Australia. It is appalling that the Federal Liberal-Nationals have announced today

that they want to subsidisei more gas long term by including it in the existing ‘Capacity

Investment Scheme’. This policy was created to support clean solutions to back up clean,

renewable power from solar and wind, the cheapest ways to produce electricity,’ said Dr. Barry

Traill, Director, Solutions for Climate Australia.

‘Gas is expensive, and it is causing climate change- directly threatening the lives and livelihoods

of Australians and people globally. Because of climate change we are approaching yet another

summer at increasing risk from extreme weather- floods, cyclones and fire.’

‘It is extraordinary that the Federal Coalition is doubling down on attacking clean power, and

subsidising more fossil fuels. Cheaper clean renewables are now providing more than 40% of

national electricity, and this is increasing by the week.’

‘The Capacity Investment Scheme is in place and working to support new batteries, pumped

hydro and other clean approaches that provide firming capacity to back up solar and wind.’

‘We call on the Federal Coalition, to follow the lead of most of their state L-NP counterparts to

actually have a policy on climate to reduce climate pollution and the risks to us all,’ finished Dr.

Traill.