The ongoing battle to keep Australia a petrostate

December 1, 2023

Noel Turnbull expresses concern about the Australian governments nonchelance regarding recent global temperature records. As he puts it, the government is busily approving new fossil fuel developments which probably make it impossible to reach even the derisory targets the government has pledged. The likely omission of a climate trigger in the revised EPBC Act is more evidence that the government is terrified of offending almost anyone. But a recent development provides some hope. The government will underwrite 9GW of storage and 23GW of variable renewable generation doubling the renewable energy capacity on the grid. Right on cue, Murdoch journalist Terry McCrann describes the expansion as billions wasted. McCrann deserves his own chapter in any update of David Michaels book ‘The Triumph of Doubt: Dark Money and the Science of Deception’ reviewed by Turnbull. COP28 will reveal the world is not on track to achieve the Paris Agreement. The Australian government will struggle to justify new coal and gas projects. Be prepared for a new push by the fossil fuel lobby to continue the deception. Gina Rineharts recent attempt in the Murdoch press to talk up mining and argue for weaker environment laws is only the beginning.