Abbott under fire as RET review integrity compromised
RET review board member Dr Brian Fisher has compromised the integrity of the investigation into the renewable energy target.
Tristan Edis from Business Spectator reports that Fisher is an owner and Managing Director of BAEconomics, a firm that handled economic modelling that has now been submitted by the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) to the RET review board. (If you’re not convinced here’s his CV.)
As part of their submission requesting that the RET be scrapped, APPEA have formally lodged data overseen by Fisher for consideration by himself and others into the future of the renewable energy scheme.
Dr Fisher has compromised his own integrity and the integrity of the board with his conflict of interests, and any recommendations it passes regarding the scheme, until Fisher steps down from the panel or the submission is revoked.
The fiasco echoes comments from Bruce Easton regarding the review of the Victorian electricity efficiency target who said, “This is a result that one would only expect if the coal-fired generators had written the report themselves.”
Several European ambassadors ignored diplomatic conduct yesterday to criticise the government’s climate stance. “I’m amazed that a Liberal government does not choose a market mechanism to regulate emissions,” said Swedish ambassador Sven-Olof Petersson. “I think that is really shocking.”
Italy’s ambassador to Australia, Pier Francesco Zazo, shared the views of his peers saying, “We were all a little bit surprised … that environment was not considered a priority issue.”
Prime Minster Tony Abbott has come under fire from the public following a number of policy changes introduced in last week’s budget announcement. With Labor enjoying an 11 point advantage in the polls and Bill Shorten now leading Mr Abbott as preferred Prime Minister he has been forced to defend his position.
“What we saw in the last two terms of parliament was the political disaster that occurred to governments that wantonly changed their leader,” said Mr Abbott.
