The Abbott Government’s dishonesty and incompetence has almost destroyed Australia's renewable energy industry, including thousands of jobs according to the Australians Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

 

More than 2000 clean energy jobs have been lost since 2011-12 because of the uncertainty caused by the Liberal Government’s broken promise on the Renewable Energy Target.

 

Employment in renewables has slipped 15 per cent since it reached a peak of almost 15,000 full-time workers under Labor when it increased by 44 per cent.

 

According to the ABS, over 12,500 Australians worked at wind farms, solar panel manufacturers and hydropower plants last year with the bulk of those renewables' jobs were in NSW (22 per cent).

 

The biggest fall in clean energy jobs was in Queensland, which has lost 1300 jobs (34 per cent) since 2011-12.

The ABS warns there more job losses can be expected while the Government stubbornly refuses to accept Labor and the industry’s compromised Renewable Energy Target (RET) position of 33,500GWh.

 

The Business Council of Australia, Australian Industry Group, Clean Energy Council, Labor, unions and the finance sector all want an end to the uncertainty.

 

Since Tony Abbott was elected, investment in Australia's renewable energy industry has fallen 88 per cent, while around the world investment rose by 16 per cent.

 

Labor has always been guided by the science when it comes to tackling climate change, which why we established Australia's Renewable Energy Target to drive investment in clean energy alternatives.

 

We know that every day this matter drags on, more jobs are lost and every day the uncertainty continues, projects are shelved and future jobs are lost.

 

Tony Abbott seems more than happy to watch this industry and tens of thousands of jobs leave Australian shores.

 

Labor won’t stand by and let Tony Abbott drive another industry from Australia.

 

Labor believes renewable energy must continue to grow as part of Australia's energy mix.

 

It’s an economically and environmentally sensible approach to reducing pollution and creating the next generation of Australian jobs.

 

Labor’s vision of a smart modern 21st century Australia has renewable energy at its centre.

 

TUESDAY, 14 APRIL 2015

 

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