Australian Industry Group Chief Executive Innes Willox has strongly endorsed Labor’s commitment to net zero carbon emissions in Australia by 2050 and warned that failure to embrace the target will damage Australia’s economy.
In a television interview today Mr Willox said Australia could be “left behind’’ if it did not join the 73 nations that have already committed to the target, which the Morrison Government has rejected.
Mr Willox said there was a fear that Australia’s rejection of the target could disadvantage our nation in negotiations for free trade agreements with the United Kingdom and the European Union.
“If we don’t go down this path and do it in a sensible, structured methodical way we risk being cut out of agreements or being penalised,” Mr Willox said.
Seventy-three nations have backed the target, along with every Australian state government, our biggest airline, our biggest mining company, our biggest bank, our biggest telecommunications provider, and other leading businesses.
Scott Morrison is locked in a reckless and extreme position - completely out of step with other governments and the business community - because of the stranglehold, the hard-right of the Coalition has on climate policy.
The CSIRO has advised that adopting net zero emissions will lead to stronger economic growth, higher real wages, and lower energy bills.