A “clean energy budget,” still encouraging gas

The 2023 Australian Federal Budget has been revealed, and includes significant investments in clean energy, with the government allocating $2 billion towards a new hydrogen program aimed at developing a sustainable domestic industry and export market, and a tax on critical minerals extraction.

However, the budget strongly supports the development of liquefied natural gas projects, which the government says will provide a transition fuel to help meet emissions reduction targets. 

And in a landmark report released yesterday, the West Australian government found that ten times the current energy generation capacity will be needed as the state looks to replace coal-fired power stations and meet surging demand from customers electrifying their operations.

Today’s top stories:

Tax shake-up for gas producers, $4 billion for Australia to 'power the world'
A slew of projects and programs were announced in the budget that focused on boosting renewables, growing green industries, and pushing the country toward a net zero economy.

Clean energy budget stakes $2b on renewable hydrogen
Cheap loans for energy upgrades and nation-building new industries have been backed in the budget to permanently reduce power bills and create clean jobs.The 2023/24 budget takes the Albanese government's "renewables superpower" investment to $40b.

WA government reveals massive scale of going green — but who’s going to pay is yet to be worked out
Western Australia’s biggest electricity system will need to roughly triple in size over the next 20 years, as the state seeks to wean itself off fossil fuels and go green.

What Australia's new gas tax will mean for new projects, the economy and the climate
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has announced higher taxes on gas industry profits, which he says will give Australians a "fairer return" on their natural resources.

Australians who will miss out on $500 energy rebate announced in federal budget 2023
Three unlucky Australian states and territories are set to miss out on the full benefits of a $500 rebate for skyrocketing energy bills. Western Australia, the Northern Territory and the ACT will only get $350 in reprieve. 

Federal Budget 2023: Plug pulled on hybrid car tax breaks
Hybrid cars that fail to match green claims have been cut out of lucrative tax concessions in the 2023 budget. Plug-in hybrid cars will no longer be eligible for the tax break from 2025.

Federal Budget 2023: Cheap loans for energy-efficient homes, Government offers $2bn for green hydrogen pursuit
Households would be able to access cheap loans for solar panels and energy-efficient appliances under a $1.3 billion scheme designed to slash power bills.The Albanese Government will also spend $2b on subsidising a small number of large-scale green hydrogen projects as it pushes to make Australia a world leader in the emerging industry.

Gas Must Not Undermine Climate and Cost of Living Progress
In response to the Federal Budget, Greenpeace Australia Pacific welcomed the Government’s investment in renewable energy and household electrification, but noted the Government must not let the gas industry undermine progress.

Whyalla’s blue steel plant on track for $2bn green glow-up
A Whyalla hydrogen power plant is poised to snare a slice of $2bn in funding to help produce green steel under plans to make Australia “a renewable energy superpower”.

Almost Half The Planet Predicted to Enter New Climate Zones by 2100
A new study simulating Earth's future out to 2100 shows just how fundamentally incremental changes in temperature and precipitation could alter climates on a local level, so much so that we would have to redraw maps first conceived in the 1880s.

Is food packaging as bad as we think it is?
Food waste is responsible for up to 10 percent of greenhouse emissions, yet good packaging design can help reduce the amount of food we throw out.What can consumers do about reducing food waste and can the industry do more?