‘Twiggy' Forrest-led business campaign demands Albanese go greener
Labor ducked a fight on emissions at the May election by delaying a decision on the interim target required by the Paris Agreement – the legally binding international treaty on climate change – but the government's Climate Change Authority is expected to force its hand when it delivers long-awaited advice within weeks.
Sources familiar with the authority's thinking expect it to urge a cut of 65 to 75 per cent by 2035, which could add weight to calls for the prime minister to use his large parliamentary majority to legislate an ambitious target, despite the United States turning away from climate action and withdrawing from the Paris Agreement.
The Paris Agreement signed by almost 200 parties including Australia commits countries to reducing their emissions via five year targets to avoid global average temperature increases of more than 2 degrees, and ideally 1.5.
The stoush over Australia's emissions comes amid a global reckoning on climate change agreements as many countries in Europe debate the merits of deep emissions reductions targets after years of sharp rises to the cost of living.
Big business is split on climate targets. The Business Council of Australia, which represents more than 100 of the country's largest companies, is divided between telecommunications firms and banks happier with steeper cuts and resources companies worried about a speedier transition.
As the council debates options, a new coalition of mostly left-leaning companies, called the Business for 75 campaign that includes mining giant Fortescue, has formed to call for larger cuts.
Fortescue, whose founder Forrest accompanied Albanese on his visit to China this month, said it would continue to push the government to have higher ambitions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
4 hours ago
- West Australian
Government to introduce legislation for cheaper PBS medicines next week as parliament resumes
Australians could soon pay less for prescription medicines, with the government set to bring forward legislation for cheaper PBS medicines when parliament resumes next week. Anthony Albanese says he remained focused on delivering cost-of-living relief, which was a key election promise at the May 3 poll which delivered him a whopping 94-seat majority. The legislation would cut PBS medicine costs to $25 and freeze concession prices at $7.70. 'We want to focus very much on cost-of-living. That was the basis upon which we were elected,' he said on Sunday. 'The size of your bank balance shouldn't determine the quality of your healthcare. 'In the last term, we had a range of measures, and the Coalition opposed all of them. 'This term, we've already had all the changes on July 1: the increase in the minimum wage, the changes that we have made in energy bill relief, the cheaper batteries, the range of measures now, this week, we will have cheaper medicines. 'We said we would make cheaper medicines even cheaper - that is exactly what we are doing.' It would reduce the maximum cost of PBS medicines by 20 per cent from January 1 next year, which is expected to save Australians over $200 million annually. Health Minister Mark Butler said the change would make medicines for general patients the cheapest they've been since 2004. 'For pension and concession card holders we've frozen your medicine prices at a maximum price of $7.70 until the end of the decade,' Mr Butler said.
Sky News AU
4 hours ago
- Sky News AU
‘Never mention the war': Albanese takes ‘Fawlty Towers' approach to foreign affairs
On tonight's episode of Paul Murray Live, Sky News host Paul Murray discusses Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's China trip, Labor MPs obsession with social media, Sussan Ley's push to reconnect with corporate Australia and the net zero fight. '(Anthony Albanese) in his natural environment, communist China,' Mr Murray said. 'Six days of building an important relationship, which begins with the traditional backside kissing of the Chinese leader. 'Never mention the war, this is the Fawlty Towers approach to foreign affairs.'
Perth Now
4 hours ago
- Perth Now
Big step to kick off $25 medicines pledge
Labor will begin its first steps to legislate its election promise to cap the cost of scripts listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to $25 from January 1 of next year. Once passed, eligible medicines will be lowered from $31.60 to $25. The government estimates the change will save Australians $200m a year, while costing the budget $690m over four years. This is in addition to previous reforms which allowed patients to acquire 60-day prescriptions, and freezing the cost of medicine for pension and concession card holders at $7.70 until the end of 2029. Labor will begin its first steps to bring down the cost of PBS-listed medicines to just $25. NewsWire/ Dan Peled Credit: News Corp Australia The election pledge was also matched by the Coalition, suggesting the Bill will likely have a swift passage through parliament. Anthony Albanese said it was a promise delivered. 'This is another example of cost of living relief that helps every Australian,' Mr Albanese said. 'The size of your bank balance shouldn't determine the quality of your healthcare. My government will continue to deliver cost of living relief for all Australians.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said 'the size of your bank balance shouldn't determine the quality of your healthcare'. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Albanese said the government would continue to deliver cost of living relief for Aussies. NewsWire/Philip Gostelow Credit: News Corp Australia Health Minister Mark Bulter also welcomed the incoming Bill. 'Cheaper medicines are good for the hip pocket and good for your health,' Mr Butler said. 'For general patients medicines haven't been this cheap since 2004. 'For pension and concession card holders we've frozen your medicine prices at a maximum price of $7.70 until the end of the decade.' The Bill comes as the United States lashed Australia's PBS as 'discriminatory' amid tariff negotiations to remove the general 10 per cent levy, as well as fees on Australian steel and aluminium US imports. The government estimates the change will save Aussies $200m a year. NewsWire/Joel Carrett Credit: News Corp Australia Concerningly, US President Donald Trump has also flagged a 200 per cent tariff on pharmaceutical imports, which could have a major impact on $2bn of Australian exports. However the Albanese government said it is unwilling to use the PBS as a bargaining chip. On Sunday, Mr Albanese also faced a grilling over when Labor would introduce its proposed plan to double the tax on superannuation accounts over $3m up to 30 per cent. He said the Bill 'will come in time' and that the priority in the first fortnight was policies 'that make a difference to people's money in their pocket'. Perth MP and assistant minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman said the government had been 'clear about our priorities' for the Bill and said he was 'confident it will pass'. 'I think we have seen in this building, time and time again, that when it comes to getting things through parliament, you have got to also let the parliamentary processes do their piece,' he said.
