Things Continue To Look Up For Australian Renewable Energy Industry

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The Australian renewable energy industry continues to receive good tidings from the new-look Liberal Party.

Speaking to The Australian Financial Review, Environment Minister Greg Hunt (who kept his position in the recent Liberal Party leadership change), has reaffirmed the belief that Australia’s new leadership structure will be more focused on supporting the country’s renewable energy. “I think [the renewables industry] should feel that with myself, Malcolm Turnbull and Josh Frydenberg, they will be in a very, very supportive environment,” he said in a recent interview.

Mr Hunt’s support comes following newly-appointed Minister for Resources, Energy and Northern Australia Minister Josh Frydenberg’s similar comments, in which he told radio host Jon Faine that “clearly renewable energy is a key part of our energy platform.”

In fact, a round of small-news announcements have been filtering out of Australia’s capital of Canberra following Malcolm Turnbull’s successful election challenge, including news that his new government would not attempt to abolish renewable energy agencies the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, and would now fall under Minister Hunt’s purview, in addition to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

“Obviously under Malcolm Turnbull there is a history of a deep long support for renewable energy,” Mr Hunt told Sky News on Monday, on the heels of inside sources saying that the shift in oversight for the two agencies signaled the new government’s decision not to abolish them.

“Australia is well placed to take advantage of these changes, and the renewable energy industry is looking forward to working with Minister Frydenberg, whose early comments show that he recognises the growing economic contribution of clean energy like wind, solar, bioenergy and energy efficiency,” said Clean Energy Council Policy Manager Darren Gladman on Monday.

“We are also looking forward to continuing our relationship with Environment Minister Greg Hunt, whose support was critical in restoring bipartisan support to the national Renewable Energy Target (RET).”