In an embarrassing backflip, the Andrews Labor Government has failed to comply with its own laws and set emissions reduction targets to enable Victoria to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
In 2017, the Andrews Labor Government introduced the Climate Change Act which mandated the Government to set emissions reduction targets.
The Andrews Labor Government received an Expert Panel Report in June 2019 making recommendations on how to reduce emissions.
However, for over a year, the Andrews Labor Government has sat on the Report and done nothing.
The Climate Change Act required Daniel Andrews and his Minister to set interim reduction targets for the years 2025 and 2030 by 31 March and table them in Parliament within 10 days but due Labor preventing Parliament from sitting, they have failed do either.
The Climate Change Act also required the Government to release action plans by 1 August 2020 on how specific industries, like the electricity and transport sectors, are to reduce their emissions. However, nothing has been done to help transition and support these vital industries.
The Victorian Liberal Nationals have positive plans to reduce emissions and combat climate change, already announcing election commitments to:
- Zero to Landfill, to eliminate household waste to landfill and use it as a low emissions energy source; and
- A Container Deposit Scheme, recycling and reducing harmful impacts on the environment.
The Victorian Liberal Nationals have also called for immediate action from the Government to plant 1 million trees in the next year at least to act as carbon banks and regenerate the environment after the devastating bushfires and to extend funding for Victorian Landcare to support community organisations grow, plant and care for trees.
Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Bridget Vallence:
“It’s an embarrassing backflip – the Andrews Labor Government can’t even comply with its own Climate Change laws and set important emissions reduction targets.
“The Andrews Labor Government has sat on the Expert Panel Report for over a year. It’s outrageous that Daniel Andrews has waited until the day before he was required under his own law to announce emissions targets to say he has no plans.
“Victorian families and industry wanted certainty about emissions reduction targets and how these would impact them, but sadly the Andrews Government has failed them again.”
