The Australian political response to the COVID-19 pandemic has proved that governments can act quickly if conditions demand it, even if that means overturning longstanding ideological obstacles.

‘A 45 per cent reduction target is fundamentally out of step with the action we need to take to avoid the worst of climate change,' says GetUps campaign director in response to Labor's energy policy.

Federal Labor is preparing to launch its energy policy – some six months out of a likely election date – with an expected attack on the Coalition government’s efforts to support new investment in coal generation, and details finally of its own plan to achieve its target of 50 per cent renewables by 2030.

Voters in the seat of Lismore have a chance to hear their candidates outline their policies on renewable energy tonight at the Lismore City Bowls Club.

Federal Labor has effectively abandoned its 50 per cent renewable energy target after its leaders failed hopelessly to identify the obvious arguments to defend the policy.