Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 7-Aug-18

Labor-led state governments are unlikely to support the national energy guarantee at the Council of Australian Governments meeting on 10 August. However, the Victorian, Queensland and ACT governments have indicated that they are open to backing the NEG, although they will not make a final decision until after the policy is put to the federal Coalition’s joint party room meeting on 14 August. The NEG’s proposed carbon emissions reduction target remains a key point of contention for Labor at both state and federal level.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, AUSTRALIA. ENERGY SECURITY BOARD, QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, VICTORIA. DEPT OF ENVIRONMENT, LAND, WATER AND PLANNING, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

Original article by Simon Benson, Michael McKenna, Samantha Hutchinson, Michael Owen
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 6-Aug-18

The Labor Environment Action Network says the proposed national energy guarantee should only be supported if there is provision for carbon emissions reduction targets to be increased to match Labor’s own stated targets. Labor’s environmental wing argues that it is in the nation’s interests to resolve the impasse regarding energy policy. However, a Queensland Government source has indicated that it will not support the NEG in its current form, while Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says his state will not back the NEG unless the Federal Government can demonstrate that its own party room will support the policy.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LABOR ENVIRONMENT ACTION NETWORK, VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, AUSTRALIA. ENERGY SECURITY BOARD, COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS, GETUP LIMITED, GREENPEACE AUSTRALIA PACIFIC LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, LIBERAL PARTY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 11 : 27-Jul-18

Labor is expected to support the passage of the federal government’s National Energy Guarantee in the House of Representatives. However, it is understood that Labor will seek to amend the NEG’s carbon emissions reduction target in the Senate, and it may have the numbers to achieve this. The government’s intention is that emissions be reduced to 26 per cent of 2005 levels by 2030, but Labor believes that a higher target should be set. If Labor go ahead with this strategy, it could well become a key election issue.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, CENTRE ALLIANCE, AUSTRALIA. ENERGY SECURITY BOARD

Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 26-Jul-18

The Federal Government will require the support of Senate crossbenchers for its national energy guarantee, after Labor signalled that it will oppose the policy even if it is approved by the states and territories. Labor’s energy spokesman Mark Butler has described the NEG’s carbon emissions reduction target as "un­realistic" and warned that the policy will adversely affect jobs and investment in the renewable energy sector. Smart Energy Council CEO John Grimes has expressed similar concerns, while Victorian Energy Policy Centre director Bruce Mountain has questioned the need for the NEG.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, SMART ENERGY COUNCIL, VICTORIAN ENERGY POLICY CENTRE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS, ONE NATION PARTY, AUSTRALIA. ENERGY SECURITY BOARD, AUSTRALIAN ENERGY MARKET OPERATOR LIMITED