The federal Budget has finally dropped, and when it comes to climate change it’s sending some very mixed signals.
On the “good news” side, the government is putting $143.2 million over five years into measures to “maximise consumer and community benefits of the energy transition”.
That includes $97.2 million to keep rolling out the National Consumer Energy Resources Roadmap and to establish a new National Technical Regulator to “develop, coordinate and streamline regulation of consumer energy resources” like rooftop solar, batteries and EV tech.
There’s also funding to “maintain proportionate battery system inspections under the Cheaper Home Batteries program” and to “expand the scope of the Dealership and Repairer Initiative for Vehicle Electrification Nationally”, plus extra money to “uplift the Australian Energy Regulator” so it can help consumers get the best deal and enforce the rules.
But the Budget also banks $2.2 billion in “savings” over 14 years by redirecting or reducing uncommitted funding across the Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio — including cuts to hydrogen, solar and battery initiatives, parts of the Powering the Regions Fund, and regional hydrogen hubs.
That’s before you even get to the fossil fuel side of the ledger.
The Climate Council says this Budget “maintains the $19 billion gravy train for big fossil fuel corporations”, made up of fuel tax credits and foregone gas export tax revenue.
“That is $19 billion in the wrong direction, keeping us tied to foreign oil, rather than supporting the expansion of renewable energy solutions that Australians want to deliver a safer, cleaner, more secure energy future,” CEO Amanda McKenzie said.
She also argues that “if the government is serious about intergenerational fairness, the Budget must address not just housing but climate harm landing on young people. We can’t secure young Australians’ futures while expanding coal, oil and gas”.
So is this a climate win or a climate compromise?
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