The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA), the peak body for Australias upstream oil and gas industry, has today backed in net zero emissions across the economy by 2050.
In its announcement, the peak body included the common-sense principle that net zero emissions by 2050 should be the goal of national and international policy.
It has fallen on deaf ears once again in the common sense blackhole that is the Liberal-National Party Room.
APPEA joins more companies and industry bodies than you could poke a stick at, including the Business Council of Australia, the National Farmers Federation, Australian Industry Group, big resources companies, our biggest airline, our biggest banks, and countless experts and scientists.
120 countries, 70 per cent of our trading partners, and every state and territory in the country has signed up -- but where are Scott Morrison and Angus Taylor?
Corporate Australia, including our largest exporters, support the net zero target because they understand Australia can become a clean energy superpower, leading to stronger economic growth and more jobs, while remaining a global resources and trading powerhouse.
In just a week of the Morrison-Taylor climate and energy pantomime we have seen:
- Flippant remarks to carve out agriculture from consideration of NZE 2050 (despite the NFF and its members disagreeing)
- Ministers putting their heads in the sand at the prospect of carbon tariffs being imposed on Australian exports by our major trading partners
- The backbench pledging to cross the floor to reject Morrisons NZE 2050 commitment that doesnt exist
- Closure of the Altona refinery (following the closure of the Kwinana refinery) resulting in the loss of hundreds of jobs and an almost 100% reliance on global fuel supplies
Australia is sick of high energy prices, sick of policy chaos and sick of the risk the Morrison Government is putting Australian jobs, exports, and the economy in.
So corporate Australia, the resources industry and individuals are moving ahead in spite of them.
Its past time for the laggard Morrison Government to put an end to this policy madness, sign up to NZE 2050 and stop risking Australian jobs.