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.

In the midst of the climate election there’s been an elephant in the room that all seem to have failed to see – the economic benefits of Australia proactively responding to the climate challenge.

It seems that the Labor Party has finally had enough of joining with the Coalition in the policies of the lowest common denominator, at least in respect to renewable energy. Labor leader Bill Shorten has finally found a major issue to make a point of difference with Tony Abbott.

Peg Putt, CEO, Markets For Change. Energy retailers and consumers must beware of electricity produced from the logging of Australia’s native forests after the Australian Parliament approved inclusion of native forest biomass into the nation’s Renewable Energy Target (RET).

Labor has come under attack for stitching up a deal with the Coalition government to reduce the Renewable Energy Target. The Greens say the deal will mean fewer jobs and less clean energy on the north coast.

Coalition and Labor agree on a big cut to renewables target, but they have not put an end to the policy bastardry that has marred the last 18 months. Big coal, as usual, is the biggest winner.