It appears the fossil fuel industry’s scare campaign over renewable energy driving up the price of electricity is having the same desired effect it had back in 2011 when they campaigned against placing a penalty on polluting the atmosphere with global warming gases.

The government has indicated they will push the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to finance new coal power plants on the basis that these coal plants have lower emissions than existing coal power plants. 

Electricity consumption in the National Electricity Market (NEM) increased by 0.8% in 2016, this is on top of a 1.1% increase in 2015. Queensland and NSW experienced increases in consumption with all other states experiencing a reduction.

Both the Labor and the Liberal-National Coalition publicly profess the importance of combating climate change and developing Australia’s innovation capabilities.

Those within the Government that pushed to dump a scheme to reduce the emissions intensity of our electricity sector were very clear about why - keeping electricity prices low and power supplies secure.