Bipartisan Wins and Climate Clashes: A Look at a Week in Australian Senate

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A major focus in the Australian Senate last week was the passing of a new free trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This bill, which aims to boost trade between the two nations, was passed unanimously. This demonstrates a rare moment of bipartisan agreement on a significant economic policy matter.

Another notable event was the defeat of a motion to scrap the country's net-zero by 2050 emissions policy. The motion, introduced by Senator Pauline Hanson, was overwhelmingly voted down by a coalition of Labor, Greens, and most of the opposition parties. This vote reaffirms Australia's commitment to its climate change targets.

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Other Key Events

• Several new Senators gave their first speeches, a traditional parliamentary event marking the start of their tenure.

• Bills related to the Universities Accord, which includes measures on student debt and a national code to address gender-based violence, were passed. This legislative push is part of a broader government effort to reform the higher education sector.

• The Senate also saw the tabling of various documents related to online gambling, housing, and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). These documents are part of the Senate's oversight role, holding the government accountable on key policy areas.

A look at the Senate's sitting day from July 28 provides a good overview of the daily proceedings and debates that take place.

While the defeat of the motion to scrap the net-zero by 2050 policy was a notable event in the Senate, the debate around climate change in Australia is a multifaceted and ongoing one, extending well beyond this single issue. Here are some of the key climate change policies being debated and discussed in Australia:

1. The Safeguard Mechanism: This is a central and highly debated policy.¹ It's designed to limit greenhouse gas emissions from Australia's largest industrial facilities.² The government's reforms aim to reduce the emissions baselines for these facilities by an average of 4.9% each year until 2030.³ The debate centers on whether these reforms are ambitious enough, with some critics arguing that loopholes, such as the use of carbon offsets, allow for the continued expansion of fossil fuel projects without meaningful emissions reduction.⁴

2. Renewable Energy Targets: Australia has a target of generating 82% of its electricity from renewables by 2030.⁵ There's an ongoing debate about the pace of this transition, with some reports suggesting that the current pipeline of renewable energy projects is insufficient to meet the target.⁶ This leads to discussions about the need for more investment, streamlined approval processes, and a clear plan for phasing out coal and gas-fired power plants.⁷

3. Carbon Sinks and Land Management: A significant part of Australia's climate strategy involves "carbon sinks," which are natural systems like forests and soils that absorb and store carbon dioxide.⁸ There's a lot of policy focus on the role of sustainable land management and carbon farming in meeting emission targets.⁹ Debates arise over how to best incentivize landholders to undertake these practices and how to balance carbon sequestration with other land uses, such as agriculture.¹⁰

4. The Role of Nuclear Energy: A recent and prominent point of contention is the debate over nuclear power.¹¹ While the current government is focused on renewables, the opposition has been advocating for the introduction of nuclear energy as a long-term solution. This debate revolves around the cost, feasibility, and safety of nuclear power in the Australian context.

5. Electric Vehicle Strategy: The government has a national strategy to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) by making them more accessible and affordable. This includes discussions around establishing and supporting the necessary charging infrastructure and financial incentives for consumers.

These debates highlight the complex and sometimes conflicting goals of reducing emissions, ensuring energy reliability and affordability, and supporting key industries.

The Senate Live proceedings.Australian Parliament