New IR policy, but Labor keeps mum on climate target

Labor Leader Anthony Albanese and new energy spokesman Chris Bowen. Picture: Sean Davey.
Labor Leader Anthony Albanese and new energy spokesman Chris Bowen. Picture: Sean Dav

Opposition energy spokesman Chris Bowen has refused to outline Labor’s 2030 or 2035 emissions reduction targets, as he says the opposition cannot just adopt Scott Morrison’s climate policy.

Mr Bowen — who took on the climate change portfolio in Anthony Albanese’s sweeping shadow cabinet reshuffle last week — said on Sunday that he still had to consult on the party’s ultimate emissions target at the election.

“We will outline our pathway to net zero by 2050,” he told Sky News.

“We will have a very strong climate policy, one based on a sensible understanding of the science, and one focused on the opportunities.”

When asked why the party would not adopt the government’s 28 per cent reduction by 2030 – as advocated by former Labor resources spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon — Mr Bowen said Labor could not afford to be a copy of the Liberals.

“Labor’s been elected to government from opposition three times since World War Two. It’s a hard thing to do,” he told Sky News.

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“And when we’ve done it before, we’ve given people a compelling reason to vote for us.

“A reason to vote for Labor is not: ‘Vote for us because we’re the same as the other guys but a bit nicer.’”

Mr Albanese, whose leadership is facing mounting pressure from factional forces within the party, has promised to reveal Labor’s new industrial relations policy in the next fortnight.

He has told Nine Newspapers the policy will provide more security for workers, putting the gig economy and companies like Uber Eats on notice.

He refused to say whether the party would change its policy to curb negative gearing.

“We will continue to have discussions about deliberations about tax policy, that’s something that will be fully considered by Jim Chalmers and Katy Gallagher and the shadow ministry,” he told the newspapers.

“It’s appropriate that there be proper consideration. One of the things that I’ve been determined to do is to have proper processes in place.”