10 May 2024
Topics: Labor’s gas strategy and internal revolt, budget, cost of living
E&OE
Tom Connell:
There’s somewhat a pushback, though, some are calling it a revolt from some of the inner-city Labor MPs who say they don’t agree with this policy. Joining me now is Shadow Environment Minister Jonathon Duniam. Thank you for your time. This just Labor getting on board with the gas-led recovery is it? Are you giving this the thumbs up?
Senator Duniam:
Well, it is great to see an admission that perhaps putting all your eggs in one basket, and that is to pursue renewables at the expense of anything else, wasn’t ever going to work. So, it is an admission that they got it wrong, but I’m not actually sure that what they’re proposing is going to do enough to actually ensure that we have gas coming into the market to keep the lights on, to keep manufacturers doing what they need to do. When you’ve got a government funding the EDO which is holding up massive projects, as we’ve seen already, and a range of backbenchers and other members of the assistant ministry saying that they’re not happy with this, I’m not sure this gas strategy is going to get off the ground. So, too little, too late and I don’t think it’s going to go anywhere under this Government.
Tom Connell:
Well, you know, is that sort of you barracking from the sidelines hoping Labor blow up about this?
Senator Duniam:
I don’t think it’s going to take much barracking from me for the Labor left to go all out on this. I mean, when you’ve got the Labor Environment Action Network, which again, has members of the assistant and outer ministry in it, and I think even some cabinet ministers saying that they’re not for this, I don’t think the next caucus meeting around this particular issue is going to be a settled one. I think there’s going to be a huge amount of debate and what was announced by Minister King, and I admire her courage in this space, I don’t think is going to look anything like what she’s announced by the time the rubber hits the road.
Tom Connell:
Debates around climate emissions, all that, they have happened on the Liberal Party side plenty of times before as well. What are you anticipating before the next election? A new 2030 target? Because if you don’t at least adopt what Labor has, you have to walk away from the Paris climate agreement. That’s the nature of this moment. You’re either keeping your current commitment, which is what the Labor Government has pledged, or you go up. You can’t go down.
Senator Duniam:
Well, look, we’ll work through everything we’re going to take to the next election and we’ll announce that in due course, but I suppose one thing that seems to be missing from the Government, but that will be a major part of what we take forward, is going to be a focus on the cost of living and actually bringing down the cost of energy, for example. It is important to ensure, make sure, we meet our international obligations, but you can’t do that in isolation from addressing cost of living and cost of doing business. So that’ll be a big part of what we do but, of course, all of this is going to be announced by appropriate shadow ministers like Ted O’Brien and of course our leader, Peter Dutton, before the next election.
Tom Connell:
Ok, well, you know, I tried. Sure you’ll give it to me one day just for persistence. The budget, look, we know a fair bit about it. Instead of talking about various policies and so on, what’s missing? You’re sitting there going, ‘Yeah, I wish this could be in the budget right now.’ You don’t have to get party political if you don’t want to. You’re free to. What’s something that’s really missing that would suit the times, do you think?
Senator Duniam:
Well, I think Labor’s strategy around trying to get economic activity going is lacking and you know, I’m sorry, I’m going to be party political here, but subsidising or incentivising is often great and sometimes needed, but you know, there are some things that don’t cost a sense that this government should be getting along with, and they include things like addressing environmental approvals. I mean, we’re two years into looking at how we could reform those laws, it wouldn’t cost a cent to reform those laws and actually get projects happening more quickly. That would bring on economic activity and would help with cost of living. So, they’re the sorts of things around the edge of the budget I think we do need to be seeing here, but you know, frankly, we aren’t. As a Tasmanian, I’d love to see money for the GST for the stadium guaranteed, but again, I doubt we’ll see that on Tuesday night. There’s a whole range of things, I’ve got to say, but I think this budget will miss the mark and probably won’t touch the sides when it comes to cost of living.
Tom Connell:
Oh look, let’s wait ‘til it rolls out. Then you can, you know, have a crack at it. Let’s at least give him a chance. Alright, final one, this is a bit tabloid, go short because I’m going to get in trouble otherwise, cost of living, household budget tip. What’s something you do that saves money? Maybe it’s a Tasmanian specialty, maybe it’s an Australian thing. What’s something where you can really make your dollar go further or save a bit of money you’re doing at the moment.
Senator Duniam:
Well, can I say the one thing I do is get up first, go to bed last. Turn all the lights off after all of my sons have left them all on and turn the heaters off that my wife left on as well. Get up first to make sure the house is warm for them. So that’s about as far as I can go. But yeah, look the power bills here, one of my last power bills I would share this with you was around $4 000 to keep the house warm last winter. While I’m on a good wicket, it is a sign that power bills are…
Tom Connell:
Time for solar panels maybe?
Senator Duniam:
Perhaps. It is Tassie. The sun doesn’t shine quite as much as Queensland, but certainly with hydro it’s cheaper here than elsewhere.
Tom Connell:
Alright, Jonathon Duniam there who turns off the lights and the heater every night, but gets up and turns them on so he doesn’t get the blame. That’s the crucial bit. That’s what you’ve got to do. You can’t upset the family. Jonathon, thank you.