The 2022 federal election is fast approaching, so Solar Citizens has taken a close look at where the major parties stand on key policies (you can read the policy recommendations here) needed to drive a rapid transition to renewable energy, kick-start new clean industries, and accelerate clean transport.  

How the Parties Were Scored

We’ve collated promises that the parties have made and rated them on their commitment to these important renewable energy and clean transports policies.

Liberal National Coalition

• The LNP has continued the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), which provides subsidies for rooftop solar systems until 2030. [source]
• The LNP has announced additional funding for the development of solar and storage microgrids in regional and rural Australia [source].  

Energy Transition

• The LNP is investing in a number of transmission projects, including Tasmania’s Marinus Link interconnector, and transmission links between SA, Victoria and NSW [source].
• The LNP has previously provided joint funding with NSW to develop the first Renewable Energy Zone [source]
• The LNP has previously provided some funding for CopperString 2.0 [source].

Renewable Hydrogen and Manufacturing

• The LNP Government has invested in the development of seven ‘clean’ regional hydrogen hubs, however this includes hydrogen produced from fossil fuels rather than just hydrogen from renewable energy [source].
• The LNP Government’s Technology Investment Roadmap does include low emissions steel and aluminium as investment priorities [source].
• The LNP Government has previously invested $12 million into the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct [source].

Clean Transport

• The LNP has purposefully ruled out financial incentives for electric vehicles in the Future Fuels Strategy, and has not expressed support for introducing fuel efficiency standards [source].

Australian Labor Party

Solar for All

• The ALP has committed to investing $200 million to install 400 community batteries (around 500kWH of storage) across the country [source].
• The ALP has also committed to investing $100 million for 85 solar banks (also known as solar gardens) to enable 25,000 households locked out of rooftop solar to connect to shared solar systems [source].

Energy Transition

• The ALP’s ‘Powering Australia’ energy and emissions plan outlines (but does not strictly commit to) an increase in the share of renewable energy to 82% by 2030 in the National Electricity Market (Australia’s largest grid). [source]. 
• The ALP has committed $20 billion as part of their ‘Rewiring the Nation plan’ to provide loans and rebuild the transmission network to support renewable energy growth, in line with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)’s blueprint [source]. 

Renewable Manufacturing and Hydrogen

• The ALP has committed to allocating up to $3 billion from their proposed ‘National Reconstruction Fund’ to support renewable manufacturing and ‘low emissions technologies’, including investment in green steel and aluminium, clean energy component manufacturing and hydrogen electrolysers [source].
• The ALP has committed to investing $22 million to develop the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct in Townsville [source].

Clean Transport

• The ALP has committed to an Electric Car Discount, which will exempt electric vehicles below the luxury car tax threshold ($77,565 for 2020-21)  from import tariffs and the fringe benefits tax. This would save an estimated $2,000 for a $50,000 EV [source]. 
• The ALP has not expressed support for introducing fuel efficiency standards.

Australian Greens 

Solar for All

• The Greens have committed to grants of up to $5,000 for households and up to $10,000 for small businesses, and low-interest loans of up to $10,000 and $50,000 respectively to install battery storage [source].
• The Greens have also committed to grants and loans for households and small businesses to get off gas and move to electric alternatives, but have not specifically outlined support for rooftop solar [source]  

Energy Transition

• The Greens have committed to a 100% renewable energy by 2030 target, with a further plan to reach 700% renewables (referring to energy exports) in the coming decades [source]. 
• The Greens have committed to a $25 billion Future Grid Fund to support the development of new transmission infrastructure to link Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) across Australia. Under the plan, a publicly owned utility, ‘FutureGrid’, would direct investment into transmission infrastructure and facilitate the development of REZs [source].  

Renewable Manufacturing and Hydrogen

• The Greens have committed to 700% renewables, referring to exports, and the development of a nationalised ‘Clean Energy Australia’ energy generator and retailer (a repurposed ‘Snowy Hydro 3.0’) which would invest $40 billion to build over 25GW of solar, wind and energy storage over the next decade. The investments will be guided by the Integrated System Plan released by the Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO), which outlines a scenario for Australia to become a Hydrogen Superpower [source].
• The Greens have committed to creating a new body called ‘Green Metals Australia’, which would drive $5.9 million of investment over the next decade to develop green metals and critical minerals processing and manufacturing [source].  

Clean Transport

• The Greens have committed to a $6.1 billion electric vehicle package, which includes up to $15,000 in rebates plus ‘ultra cheap finance’ for the remaining cost of an EV [source].
• The Greens have expressed support for the implementation of ‘tough’ vehicle pollution  standards, and a plan to end the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2030 [source].

Centre Alliance 

Solar for All

• Centre Alliance have announced a $100,000 Mayo Community Renewables Fund to provide grants for community renewable energy projects in the Mayo electorate [source]. 

Clean Transport

• Centre Alliance have expressed support for financial incentives to reduce the cost of electric vehicles and stricter vehicle emissions standards [source].

Katter’s Australian Party

Solar for All

• KAP has expressed support for introducing a scheme for grants and subsidies loans for primary producers to install rooftop solar on homes and workshops on properties that aren’t connected to the electricity grid and rely on diesel [source]. 

Energy Transition

• KAP has expressed support for NAIF support for Copperstring 2.0 [Townsville Bulletin print edition, 27 January 2022]. 

United Australia Party

• The UAP has not expressed support for any of the policies included in our scorecard metrics.

Please note: The above has been compiled from publicly available information and statements, and will be updated to reflect new information and responses to a request from Solar Citizens to each party to confirm policy detail.