CEFC says renewable energy taken back 12 years by Abbott Government

The Australian Wind Alliance said there’s further proof today that the Abbott Government has gutted the renewable energy industry. 

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation Chief Executive, Oliver Yates, today told a Senate estimates that the government has taken the industry back 12 years.

Andrew Bray, the National Coordinator of the Australian Wind Alliance, said the government wanted to destroy the renewable energy sector.

“The Government is acting on behalf of the big power generators who make power prices higher.

“We had a policy environment which facilitated the growth of the renewable energy sector – it’s called the renewable energy target and it used to be bi-partisan.

“However, large parts of the Federal Government are ideologically opposed to renewable energy.

"The Abbott government has broken the bi-partisanship that has underpinned the Renewable Energy Target since its inception under Liberal PM, John Howard.

“It has decimated jobs and vital economic activity by destroying confidence in the industry.

“No government has been more effective at destroying an industry in a shorter time in living memory.

“Big power companies who rely on outdated and expensive forms of power generation are being backed in by this government while renewable energy is being left to die.

“So many people’s lives and livelihoods depend on wind energy investment. It provides farmers with income security and helps boost regional economies.

“Renewables are cheaper forms of power. The Government is locking Australia in to higher power prices, which is just another broken promise.

“This is a devastating outcome for Australia as we are missing out on the boom in renewable energy investment that is happening around the world.

“Australia is being taken backwards under this Government when it comes to renewables,” said Mr Bray.

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