In response to news a Coalition government would abolish the safeguard mechanism, scrap new vehicle efficiency standards and offshore wind zones and attempt to lift the national moratorium on nuclear power generation, the Australian Conservation Foundation's head of political advocacy Gavan McFadzean said:
"The Coalition has basically declared it has no climate policy.
"Its eight energy priorities, announced today, include no plan to provide clean, cheaper, reliable energy - in fact, they contain no plan to produce electricity at all.
"You can't be anti-renewables and pro-energy reliability, because renewables with storage is the most reliable and affordable form of energy, while nuclear is the most expensive and would need to be publicly funded.
"To commit to slow the renewables transition is a breathtaking act of economic self-harm that would increase climate pollution and abandon jobs and investment in the future low carbon economy.
"The Coalition is essentially deserting households that want to lower their cost of living and carbon footprint by embracing renewable energy.
"The Liberals have turned a tin ear to the message voters sent them last election when Australians resoundingly rejected Peter Dutton's nuclear policy.
"The timing of this announcement is extraordinary given the daily reports of a record-breaking climate-charged El Niño summer heading our way.
"The Coalition offers no plan to keep people safe and is relegating Australians to worsening, deadly extreme weather events.
"Australians deserve much better from the supposed alternative government."
