Labor seemingly played for fools by government in deal to cut clean energy
Greens Climate & Energy spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today said it seems that Labor has been played for fools in their deal with the government to cut $500 million out of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, with Finance Minister Mathias Cormann seemingly trumpeting that he’ll also reduce other clean energy funds by $800 million to cover the cost of the deal. Mr Bandt called on Labor and the Liberals to immediately clarify what the Finance Minister meant with his comments.
"It looks like Labor may have been played for fools,” Mr Bandt said.
“Immediately after Labor announced their deal with the government to cut half a billion dollars from ARENA, leaving the organisation only $800 million, the Finance Minister seems to be trumpeting that he’ll also reduce other clean energy funds by $800 million to cover the cost of the deal.”
"It seems the Finance Minister thinks the government still gets to rip over a billion dollars from clean energy and that Labor has been outplayed. Far from saving clean energy, Labor just did a dirty deal with the Liberals to gut renewables."
"Labor and Liberal must immediately clarify what the Finance Minister meant when he said he'd reduce funding from other areas so that there was no net effect on the government's financial position."
Media contact: Adam Pulford, 0429 109 054