In 2019, 45pc would cost 167,000 jobs. In 2021, it will create 600,000. Go figure.
In the lead-up to the 2019 election, Bill Shorten lost his way when he couldn’t explain how much his climate policy would cost.
The Nationals Page Research Centre decided to help, commissioning modelling by well-regarded economist Dr Brian Fisher.
Fisher’s work showed that Shorten’s policy of a reduction in Australia’s Carbon Dioxide emissions of 45 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030 would cost the economy between $264 and $542 billion.
It would destroy 167,000 jobs.
But this is what is perplexing.
On Friday Anthony Albanese announced a 2030 emissions reduction policy of 43pc and released modelling saying it would create 600,000 jobs.
Why there is no media scrutiny is beyond me. Surely someone should be able to explain why a tweak of 2pc makes such a big difference?
Someone’s modelling is wrong.
What is also infuriating about the climate debate is that the media take it on face value that renewable energy leads to lower electricity prices.
But they rarely factor in the cost of base-load power, which we are closing without replacing, and the costs of building more transmission infrastructure to far flung wind farms and solar panels.
It’s the question that is never answered. What do we do for electricity when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow?
We are poorly served by our mainstream media. Perhaps high electricity prices and blackouts might be the only thing that will wake us up.
Lyle Shelton is Director of Campaigns and Communications for the Christian Democratic Party. To keep in touch with Lyle and the CDP, sign up here.