{
  "id": 9256878,
  "title": "Coalition vows to 'take a chainsaw' to climate laws, offshore wind",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/coalition-vows-to-take-a-chainsaw-to-climate-laws-offshore-wind",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T03:25:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-23/coalition-energy-plan-scrap-renewables-climate-laws/107184376"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Coalition pledges to dismantle climate laws and offshore wind initiatives if they secure government. Their energy blueprint formalizes their vow to decelerate renewables adoption and abandon key emissions reduction policies. The Coalition urges states to reconsider the nuclear power ban, asserting it could fuel AI data center growth across the nation. They plan to abolish most of Australia's offshore wind zones, severely restricting wind farm locations, as part of an eight-point plan to dismantle Australia's primary climate policies. Shadow Energy Minister Dan Tehan will address this during a speech at The Australian's energy summit, vowing to \"take a chainsaw\" to Labor's \"ideologically driven, energy-restrictive approach\" to energy. The Coalition also intends to repeal laws committing Australia to net zero emissions by 2050, scrapping requirements for major polluters to reduce emissions or face penalties, and eliminating laws mandating vehicle manufacturers to offer more efficient vehicles, including electric options. They would lift the prohibition on nuclear power, though this would necessitate Senate legislation, which is unlikely without Labor or the Greens altering their stance on nuclear energy. The party's plan outlines their complete abandonment of most major policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions and accelerating Australia's shift from coal to renewable power within 30 days of assuming office. While the Coalition claims a commitment to addressing climate change, they prioritize minimizing energy costs for homeowners and industry above all else. The CSIRO maintains that solar and wind power remain cheaper than coal, even when accounting for transmission costs. However, the transition pace has lagged, necessitating significant investment through the government's Capacity Investment Scheme. The Coalition argues this scheme should not favor specific technologies and should also support coal, gas, and nuclear power. Energy Minister Chris Bowen warns that the Coalition's plan will \"take a chainsaw\" to the economy and household budgets, making Australia poorer, weaker, and less secure from global shocks. The Coalition's plan to halt renewables and household batteries, allegedly driven by coal, would burden Australian households with global shock costs. Despite initially supporting offshore wind in 2023, the party has since abandoned most of its climate commitments under former Prime Minister Scott Morrison due to high industrial gas prices affecting Australian industry and soaring household energy bills, both blamed on coal and gas limitations. While offshore wind is widespread in Europe and China, its development in Australia remains nascent. The Albanese government designated six regions as offshore wind priority areas to stimulate the sector, allowing developers to conduct feasibility and environmental studies and engage in community consultations. However, there are currently no operational wind farms or projects under construction, although about a dozen have received planning licenses. Offshore wind harnesses stronger and more consistent winds than onshore farms, avoiding agricultural land use but incurring higher costs, posing marine life disruption risks during construction, and eliciting resistance from some neighboring communities. The Coalition contends that offshore wind has faltered, with no projects under construction four years after the inaugural wind zone's declaration and citing a $50 million financial rescue package for stalled proposals last year. US President Donald Trump's actions to cancel offshore wind funding and permits also dampened global investment. The energy minister acknowledged in his August National Press Club address that offshore wind cost growth has slowed more than initially predicted.",
  "summary": "The Coalition has promised a major slowdown of renewables if it wins power, including scrapping most offshore renewables sites, formalising its commitment to unpick Australia's key climate policies.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": "The Coalition's plan to dismantle climate laws and offshore wind initiatives signals a major shift in Australia's energy policy, prioritizing low energy costs over emissions reduction and renewable energy adoption.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}