Chris Bowen slaps down business leaders over fear his 82 per cent green power goal is unrealistic
06 . 02 . 2025
Article by Glen Norris and Greg Brown, courtesy of The Australian.
Chiefs in the infrastructure and energy sectors warn Labor’s 82 per cent green power target is unrealistic and coal-fired power stations must stay open, as the Albanese government slapped down business pleas to reconsider its renewables-only strategy and said they would be listening to “experts”.
Infrastructure NSW chairman Graham Bradley and energy rich lister Trevor St Baker both declared the Labor target unsustainable and said it must be revisited.
The mining and gas sectors have also joined calls for the Albanese government to overhaul its energy policies away from a renewables-only solution, pushing for investment signals to encourage more new gas generation and maintenance of coal-fired power generators so they can stay in the system for longer.
But Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Resources Minister Madeleine King have shot back at the growing revolt in the business world, which now spans from the food production industry to the hundreds of CEOs represented by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The frontbenchers said on Tuesday it was “not surprising that the coal lobby wants to sell more coal and the gas lobby wants to sell more gas”.
“The government takes its advice from the experts – the best way to keep the lights on and prices down is with renewables, backed by batteries, hydro and gas peaking,” the ministers said.
“The shift to clean, renewable energy is well underway but in the meantime, we need gas to ensure our energy system remains stable, reliable and affordable – our gas strategy manages that.”
Labor’s Future Gas Strategy states the fossil fuel has a long-term role in Australia’s energy system under all future scenarios, and that new gas will be needed. The government has approved a number of offshore gas production licences since the strategy was unveiled last year.
Chiefs in the infrastructure and energy sectors warn Labor’s 82 per cent green power target is unrealistic and coal-fired power stations must stay open, as the Albanese government slapped down business pleas to reconsider its renewables-only strategy and said they would be listening to “experts”.
Infrastructure NSW chairman Graham Bradley and energy rich lister Trevor St Baker both declared the Labor target unsustainable and said it must be revisited.
The mining and gas sectors have also joined calls for the Albanese government to overhaul its energy policies away from a renewables-only solution, pushing for investment signals to encourage more new gas generation and maintenance of coal-fired power generators so they can stay in the system for longer.
But Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Resources Minister Madeleine King have shot back at the growing revolt in the business world, which now spans from the food production industry to the hundreds of CEOs represented by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The frontbenchers said on Tuesday it was “not surprising that the coal lobby wants to sell more coal and the gas lobby wants to sell more gas”.
“The government takes its advice from the experts – the best way to keep the lights on and prices down is with renewables, backed by batteries, hydro and gas peaking,” the ministers said.
“The shift to clean, renewable energy is well underway but in the meantime, we need gas to ensure our energy system remains stable, reliable and affordable – our gas strategy manages that.”
Labor’s Future Gas Strategy states the fossil fuel has a long-term role in Australia’s energy system under all future scenarios, and that new gas will be needed. The government has approved a number of offshore gas production licences since the strategy was unveiled last year.
