Al Gore helps Clive Palmer deliver his inconvenient truth
Al Gore and Clive Palmer have shared the stage in Canberra in what is a massive credibility boost (for Palmer that is). Palmer announcing that the PUP would vote in favour of scrapping the carbon tax only if it were replaced by an emissions trading scheme.
They will also block any legislation that attempts to reduce the renewable energy target (RET), a stance that not only coincides with the feeling of the general public but is supported by the government’s own modelling as a means of reducing energy costs in the future.
Mr Gore described the announcement as an “extraordinary moment in which Australia, the US and the rest of the world is finally beginning to confront the climate crisis in a meaningful way. […] All of these developments add up to the world moving to solve the climate crisis.”
Orchestrating the PUP leader and the former US Vice President’s appearance was no easy task. Former chief executive of the Australian Conservation Foundation Don Henry was working on influential political figures to meet with Mr Gore during his visit to promote climate change education.
Meanwhile John Clements, long-time staffer to former independent MP Tony Windsor, was lobbying Palmer on the importance of the RET and climate change measures put in place by the former government. The event was months in the making and was not confirmed until moments after Mr Gore’s plane touched down in Canberra.
Although a number of climate initiatives have been closed or had their funding slashed in the last twelve months, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has survived two legislative repeal attempts, handing Prime Minister Tony Abbott his first double dissolution trigger. The Coalition have stripped the CEFC from the carbon tax repeal to ensure it passes without further complications.
Despite his assurances that he would never use his political power to his financial advantage, PUP’s stance does has one advantage – it hurts his political adversary Campbell Newman. The QLD premiere and leader of the LNP has been attempting to sell 8,000 MW of coal and gas fired generation assets that have been running at a loss, with the renewable energy target being unfairly blamed.