Angus Taylor pledges to repeal swathe of climate policies, saying ‘Australia has done its bit’

Angus Taylor, the newly elected Prime Minister, has pledged to repeal numerous climate and renewable energy policies introduced by past Coalition governments, signaling a shift away from Australia's previous environmental commitments. In his first official statement as leader, Taylor vowed to repeal a "rafter of emissions reduction and renewable energy policies" within a month of his administration taking office.

This announcement was made by his energy spokesperson, Dan Tehan, who confirmed a new bill would be introduced to parliament within 30 days following the upcoming federal election. The proposed changes include scrapping vehicle emissions standards, removing the legislated net zero by 2050 target, and revoking four out of six offshore wind energy zones slated for completion by the late 2030s.

These regions include the Hunter, Illawarra, Southern Ocean, and Bunbury zones. Additionally, Taylor's government intends to introduce a renewable energy code of conduct for developers and require energy funding to prioritize affordability and reliability for consumers. The Australian Energy Regulator's primary focus would shift from environmental concerns to affordability and reliability as well.