Category: Chris Bowen

Australian Climate Change Bill Passed, Enshrines 43 Percent Emissions Target

The centre-left Labor government’s Climate Change Bill has passed the Senate with support from the left-wing Australian Greens party and key crossbench members, paving the way for a new emissions reduction target to become law. The legislation, which cleared the upper house on Sept. 8, will impose a 43 percent emissions reduction target by 2030,…


Australian Climate Change Bill Passed, Enshrining Net-Zero Target Into Law

The centre-left Labor government’s Climate Change Bill has passed the Senate with support from the left-wing Australian Greens party and key crossbench members, paving the way for a new emissions reduction target to become law. The legislation, which cleared the upper house on Sept. 8, will impose a 43 percent emissions reduction target by 2030,…


Is Australia Hurtling Towards a Shiny, Centralized Clean Energy Utopia

Commentary The governments of Australia are, for the first time in many years, in agreement about the future of the energy industry. This was the key message from the recent energy meeting between the federal energy minister, Chris Bowen, and the various state ministers. Even a Liberal Party minister, Matt Kean of New South Wales…


Australia Hurtling Towards a Shiny, Centralized Clean Energy Utopia

Commentary The governments of Australia are, for the first time in many years, in agreement about the future of the energy industry. This was the key message from the recent energy meeting between the federal energy minister, Chris Bowen, and the various state ministers. Even a Liberal Party minister, Matt Kean of New South Wales…


Australian Energy Minister Hopes US-China Climate Talks Can Be ‘Ring-Fenced’ From Taiwan Tensions

Australian Energy Minister Chris Bowen is hoping Washington and Beijing can “ring-fence” the growing tensions over Taiwan and continue climate change talks after they were shuttered by the Chinese Communist Party in response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) visit to Taiwan. Beijing announced its “countermeasures” in response to Pelosi’s high-profile visit on Aug. 5…


Federal Government Invests $160 Million to Connect Australia’s Largest Wind Farm

Australia’s largest wind farm precinct could soon commence operation after the federal government announced more funding to speed up its connection to the national power grid. Under an agreement between the federal and Queensland governments, the former will invest $160 million (US$113 million) to build new infrastructure to connect power generated from the Southern Downs…


Australian Opposition Leader Gives Go Ahead for Party to Develop Nuclear Policy

Australia’s opposition leader Peter Dutton has opened the door for the Liberal-National Coalition to put nuclear energy on the table as a policy going forward—a proposal previously panned by Energy Minister Chris Bowen as the “most expensive form of energy.” An internal process will be run to examine the potential for “advanced and next-generation nuclear…


Left-Wing Greens Could Influence Government to Enable ‘Destructive’ Policies: Shadow Environment Minister

Australia’s Shadow Environment Minister has warned that the left-wing Australian Greens party will push the centre-left Labor government to implement tough environmental laws, which could come at the expense of the economy. The comment comes as Labor’s Climate Change Bill is set to go before the lower house on Wednesday, with the Greens’ votes needed…


Labor Government Loads up Tax Sweeteners for Aussies to Buy EVs

Australian federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers hopes to introduce a swathe of tax incentives—similar to some state governments—to help spur electric vehicle (EVs) sales in the country. It comes as the Labor Party puts forward legislation on the first day of Parliament, July 27, to enshrine a hard emissions reduction target of 43 percent by 2030….


Net-Zero Push Limited by Battery Storage

Advocates for a rapid transition to net-zero have not explained the real limitations of battery storage supposed to underpin the viability of the net-zero push, according to an industry engineer. Nick Kastelstein, a senior mechanical engineer at GPA Engineering, says media coverage has also failed to inform the public about the true nature of Australia’s…