Coalition vows to 'take a chainsaw' to climate laws and offshore wind   :(


September 23 2026
ABC News.

In short:
The Coalition would cancel offshore wind zones, scrap climate laws for heavy industry and car makers, and attempt to lift the ban on nuclear if it wins power.    

Its energy plan formalises a commitment to slow down renewables and jettison several core emissions reductions policies.

What's next?
The Coalition has urged states to reconsider the ban on nuclear, which it says could be used to power massive expansion of AI data centres across the country.   :(


The Coalition has vowed to abolish most of Australia's "offshore wind zones" if it wins government, massively limiting where wind farms can be built, as part of a commitment for a major slowdown of the nation's energy transition.

Shadow Energy Minister Dan Tehan said revoking the offshore wind zones along the Hunter, Illawarra, Southern Ocean and Bunbury coasts would be part of an eight-point plan to unpick Australia's key climate policies.

"We will take a chainsaw to Labor's ideologically driven, energy-restrictive approach to energy," Mr Tehan will say in an address to The Australian's energy summit.

As well as winding back the offshore wind rollout, the Coalition would also repeal laws committing Australia to reach net zero emissions by 2050, remove laws requiring the nation's biggest polluters to cut their emissions or face penalties and remove laws requiring car makers to provide more efficient vehicles to Australia, including electric vehicles.

The Coalition would also attempt to lift the prohibition on nuclear power — though that would require laws to be passed by the Senate, where there is no chance for the Coalition to win support without either Labor or the Greens changing positions on nuclear energy.


Dan Tehan says he wants to take a chainsaw to Labor's climate policies.

The power plan formalises the Coalition's abandonment of most of the major policies attempting to drive down carbon emissions and speed up the transition of Australia's electricity networks from coal towards renewable power.

"Within 30 days of getting into government we will introduce the scrap net zero bill … which will get rid of Labor's egregious taxes across energy in our country, taxes on vehicles, it will get rid of the vehicle emissions standards … it will get rid of the safeguard mechanism, which is sending industry offshore," Mr Taylor said.

While the Coalition is vowing to unpick most of the measures being used to cut emissions, the party says it remains committed to addressing climate change, but says the cost of energy to home owners and industry should be put first.

The CSIRO says solar and wind power remain cheaper power sources than coal, even after accounting for transmission costs.

However, the pace of transition has been slower than intended, and has required major investment support through the government's Capacity Investment Scheme.

The Coalition says that scheme should not be picking winners, and should also be allowed to underwrite coal, gas and nuclear power.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the Coalition's plan would "take a chainsaw" to the economy and household budgets.

"It will make Australia poorer, weaker and less secure from global shocks," Mr Bowen said.

"Their plan to stop renewables and household batteries, and sweat coal, would mean Aussie households are left to pick up the bill of global shocks."

Coalition would unpick nascent offshore wind industry
While the Coalition says Australia should have "energy abundance", it has vowed to cancel most of the declared offshore wind zones which have been opened for potential investment.

Repealing four of Australia's six offshore wind zones would leave Gippsland in Victoria and the Bass Strait in Tasmania as the only approved coasts for wind farms.

Mr Tehan was supportive of offshore wind when he joined Energy Minister Chris Bowen at the announcement of the Southern Ocean offshore wind zone in 2023, which is within his federal electorate of Wannon.

"The scale of these offshore wind farms is something to behold, and it's going to need all the community coming together to make sure that we benefit from it … we want to make sure that it continues and continues to provide jobs, and offshore wind can provide that," Mr Tehan said at the time.


Wannon MP Dan Tehan joined Energy Minister Chris Bowen to offer support for the Southern Ocean offshore renewable energy zone when it was first being consulted on.

Since then, the party has abandoned many of the climate commitments it signed up to under former prime minister Scott Morrison, as high industrial gas costs put pressure on Australian industry, and high power bills stress households — both of which the Coalition blames on limits put on coal and gas.

While offshore wind is an established industry overseas, particularly in Europe and China, the industry is still developing in Australia.

whiteknight wrote on Sep 23^rd, 2026 at 2:41pm:

Coalition vows to 'take a chainsaw' to climate laws and offshore wind   :( September 23 2026 ABC News. In short: The Coalition would cancel offshore wind zones, scrap climate laws for heavy industry and car makers, and attempt to lift the ban on nuclear if it wins power.     Its energy plan formalises a commitment to slow down renewables and jettison several core emissions reductions policies. What's next? The Coalition has urged states to reconsider the ban on nuclear, which it says could be used to power massive expansion of AI data centres across the country.   :(

Good.
Should have done it while they were in office, instead of trying to pander to the pink haired Gretas and doctors' wives with the net zero nonsense.

whiteknight wrote on Sep 23^rd, 2026 at 2:41pm:

The CSIRO says solar and wind power remain cheaper power sources than coal, even after accounting for transmission costs.

The CSIRO do not use the Levelised FULL cost of Electricity. What that term means is that all of the costs associated with the renewables need to be added to them, not as separate line items. Using the LFCOE means renewables are not cheaper.


whiteknight wrote on Sep 23^rd, 2026 at 2:41pm:

Repealing four of Australia's six offshore wind zones would leave Gippsland in Victoria and the Bass Strait in Tasmania as the only approved coasts for wind farms.

Well they have proven reliable power infrarstrcture nad resources, which they don't want to use ... because Climate Change.


whiteknight wrote on Sep 23^rd, 2026 at 2:41pm:

Since then, the party has abandoned many of the climate commitments it signed up to under former prime minister Scott Morrison, as high industrial gas costs put pressure on Australian industry, and high power bills stress households — both of which the Coalition blames on limits put on coal and gas.

Oh you want to say, that the subsidies to wind and solar, don't play a part in that additional expense? Why didn't you say so? ;D ;D ;D ;D

Risky. With this year likely to destroy climate records ... if the country, coast to coast burns, climate collapse will be front and centre in voters minds.


This reads more of a love note to one nation, in the hope of preferences.

Perhaps the coalition and one nation should start discussions on a merger.

Ai_Killed_Humanity wrote on Sep 23^rd, 2026 at 4:54pm:

With this year likely to destroy climate records

Which climate records? Those that don't include the Holocene optimum?


Ai_Killed_Humanity wrote on Sep 23^rd, 2026 at 4:54pm:

if the country, coast to coast burns, climate collapse will be front and centre in voters minds.

Wow. Who ever said you were an alarmist was not wrong. ;D ;D ;D ;D

Hurricane Polo explodes into rare Category 5 monster after feasting on hot El Niño water

Extreme rapid intensification is a wind increase of 58 mph (93 km) or more in 24 hours. Polo met that criteria and then some, with a wind increase of 110 mph (177 km), going from a 50 mph (80 km) tropical storm to a 160 mph (257 km) Category 5 from Monday to Tuesday morning.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/09/22/weather/hurricane-polo-category-5-mexico-climate

We live in dangerous times ... for denialists !

---

Ai_Killed_Humanity wrote on Sep 23^rd, 2026 at 5:42pm:

Hurricane Polo explodes into rare Category 5 monster after feasting on hot El Niño water Extreme rapid intensification is a wind increase of 58 mph (93 km) or more in 24 hours. Polo met that criteria and then some, with a wind increase of 110 mph (177 km), going from a 50 mph (80 km) tropical storm to a 160 mph (257 km) Category 5 from Monday to Tuesday morning. https://edition.cnn.com/2026/09/22/weather/hurricane-polo-category-5-mexico-climate We live in dangerous times ... for denialists !

That looks like a hokey stick...tsk, tsk  ::) ::)

Rapid intensification? Does it matter if something rapidly intensities? Surely it is of more importance if it goes over some level. It would be more important if it went over Cat 6 (not on the current scale). What if it actually collapses due to wind shear before landfall? All that alarmism would b for nothing.

According to the Polo tracker it is forecast to drop to Cat 2.

https://zoom.earth/storms/polo-2026/

I speculate white knight is using fossil fuel to post ?

I speculate he has lived a privileged white first world life using fossil fuel the whole blink of an eyebrow his life is.

I know he doesn’t understand that Australia sells the very same uranium that creates the most greenest power all over the world.

Somehow once you dig up nuclear power and ship it to the port and it crosses an ocean it suddenly becomes the most dangerous thing to the planet?

I look forward to whitewash knights exploring and posting why our Labor government is happy, very happy to supply nuclear energy sources overseas but he/ her believes it is going to be the end of the world if used here?

Quote:

Keir Starmer @Keir_Starmer We're firing up nuclear power to drive growth, jobs and more affordable energy – putting money back in your pocket. https://x.com/Keir_Starmer/status/1888177445695541259

We're closing down Whyalla steelworks after governments used taxpayers money to prop them up.

Tomago Aluminium was going to close because of high power costs no longer viable then AnAl guaranteed them over $2.5 billion of taxpayers money.

Labor aren't going to get net zero when their plan relies on burning gas when wind isn't blowing and sun isn't shining.

Ah, Tomago - to be "future proofed" by renewables and of course somewhere in there a humungous battery. 8-)

And we won’t ever get Nuclear Power because nuclear power plants cannot be used on Earth, OK in space but too dangerous to be used anywhere on the planet.

Sir Eoin O Fada wrote on Sep 24^th, 2026 at 4:18pm:

And we won’t ever get Nuclear Power because nuclear power plants cannot be used on Earth, OK in space but too dangerous to be used anywhere on the planet.

They are a great danger if war breaks out -
such as in Europe now -
they can become targets or can be hit by accident.

Bobby. wrote on Sep 24^th, 2026 at 4:20pm:

Sir Eoin O Fada wrote on Sep 24th, 2026 at 4:18pm: And we won’t ever get Nuclear Power because nuclear power plants cannot be used on Earth, OK in space but too dangerous to be used anywhere on the planet. They are a great danger if war breaks out - such as in Europe now - they can become targets or can be hit by accident.

They are returning back to nuclear power in Europe.

Bobby. wrote on Sep 24^th, 2026 at 4:20pm:

Sir Eoin O Fada wrote on Sep 24th, 2026 at 4:18pm: And we won’t ever get Nuclear Power because nuclear power plants cannot be used on Earth, OK in space but too dangerous to be used anywhere on the planet. They are a great danger if war breaks out - such as in Europe now - they can become targets or can be hit by accident.

Bobby,
They cannot be targets because they simply don’t exist on Earth.
Once again, there are no nuclear powered engines anywhere on Earth.

Sir Eoin O Fada wrote on Sep 24^th, 2026 at 5:24pm:

Bobby. wrote on Sep 24th, 2026 at 4:20pm: [quote author=Eugene link=1790138501/11#11 date=1790230730]And we won’t ever get Nuclear Power because nuclear power plants cannot be used on Earth, OK in space but too dangerous to be used anywhere on the planet. They are a great danger if war breaks out - such as in Europe now - they can become targets or can be hit by accident.

Bobby,
They cannot be targets because they simply don’t exist on Earth.
Once again, there are no nuclear powered engines anywhere on Earth.
So called Nuclear Power Plants are just like our proposed “Nuclear’’ submarines, common old steam turbines. Well  over 100 year old technology that has it’s water boiled as a byproduct of cooling a reactor.

tallowood wrote on Sep 24^th, 2026 at 4:51pm:

They are returning back to nuclear power in Europe.

Quote:

ROME (AP) — Italy’s Senate on Wednesday gave final approval to legislation paving the way for a return to nuclear power nearly four decades after the Chernobyl disaster prompted the country to abandon atomic energy. The measure cleared the upper house 81-51 with seven abstentions. It marks a major step in Premier Giorgia Meloni’s drive to bolster energy security and meet climate goals, even though the construction of possible new reactors is still years away.

https://apnews.com/article/italy-nuclear-chernobyl-4891b6b7c7791ae84db6b0bf0f7cf567

Labrador has already said the much desired 'data centres' might have to import their own modular nuclear stations.... opening the discussion from both sides....

"There have been two major reactor accidents in the history of civil nuclear power – Chernobyl and Fukushima Daiichi. Chernobyl involved an intense fire without provision for containment, and Fukushima Daiichi severely tested the containment, allowing some release of radioactivity.
These are the only major accidents to have occurred in over 20,000 cumulative reactor-years of commercial nuclear power operation in 36 countries. "

The three headed Murray Cod may be a fantasy... but you have to wonder about Marla and the US Air Force up there and mothra, sitting on top of the nuke raw material pile under the office... not to mention the asbestos dump ...