There’s a world of difference between where the major political parties stand on repowering Australia with clean, renewable energy. Over the last 6 years, the Federal Government has attempted to derail the transition by reducing the large-scale Renewable Energy Target (RET), slashing funding for the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), and trying to stop the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) from funding solar and wind projects.

Now, the booming clean energy industry is facing bust because we still have no national energy policy to provide investment certainty when the RET finishes next year. Australia can’t afford another three years of anti-renewable attacks and energy policy uncertainty – it’s risking thousands of new jobs and billions worth of investment in regional areas.

See how the different parties’ energy policies compare before casting your vote on Saturday.

The Australian Labor Party

The ALP have committed to:

• Implementing a 50% renewable energy by 2030 target via the National Energy Guarantee policy framework;
• Allocating a further $10 billion to the CEFC;
• Creating a $5 billion fund to upgrade transmission infrastructure to allow for the transition;
• Providing a $2,000 rebate for 100,000 households to purchase and install battery systems;
• Establishing community energy hubs to support community renewable energy projects, including in Western Sydney;
• Establishing a Just Transition Authority to assist communities transition;
• Requiring electricity generators give three years notice before closure;
• Implementing a national electric vehicle target of 50% new car sales by 2030 and a government electric vehicle target of 50% of new purchases and leases of passenger motor vehicles by 2025;
• Creating a $200 million fund to roll out charging infrastructure across the country;
• Allocating $1 billion of CEFC funding to support the development of the clean hydrogen industry;
• Investing $3 million to establish a National Hydrogen Innovation Hub in Gladstone;
• Funding $75 million towards apprenticeship incentives and retraining workers for the growing clean energy industry;
• Supporting 4,000 schools become virtual power plants by installing rooftop solar PV.

The Greens

The Greens have committed to:

• Extending the RET to 100% renewable energy by 2030;
• Investing an additional $500 million in ARENA, with a rolling $300 million annual budget;
• Allocating an additional $10 billion in funding to the CEFC;
• Creating a $1.7 billion Clean Energy Export Development Fund;
• Establishing a $6 billion Grid Transformation Fund to build new publicly-owned transmission infrastructure to support the transition;
• Implementing an Energy Storage Target to help meet the total 419 GWh of dispatchable power required by 2030;
• Establishing a $1.2 billion Solar for All program to support landlords and apartment dwellers to install rooftop solar PV on their property or participate in local solar gardens.
• Investing $100 million in an Indigenous and remote communities power fund to assist with the transition;
• Investing $25 million in a community renewables program to support regional and community renewable hubs across the country;
• Creating a Household Solar Storage Scheme to provide household battery storage loans of up to $7,000 per household battery or 15,000 for small businesses;
• Aiming to double energy productivity by 2030;
• Banning new internal combustion vehicles by 2030;
• Creating a $1 billion Clean Energy Transition Fund to support workers to reskill.

The Liberal/National Coalition

At the moment, the LNP have enacted or committed to:

• Building Snowy Hydro 2.0;
• Building a second interconnector between Victoria and Tasmania;
• Helping households and businesses improve energy efficiency as a part of their $3.5 billion Climate Solutions Package;
• Developing a National Strategy for Electric Vehicles;
• Funding a $10 million feasibility study into a new coal-fired generator in Queensland;
• Underwriting electricity generation, potentially including new gas generators and an upgrade to the Vales Point coal-fired generator;
• Introducing a default market offer to act as a price safety net for electricity consumers;
• Implementing “big stick” legislation to protect electricity consumers;
• Investing $50.4 million to help regional communities invest in new micro-grids.