Anthony Albanese is seeking to quell unrest about Labor's plan for addressing climate change and what that means for blue-collar jobs.
The opposition leader made a pitch for a low-carbon future to pave the way for economic growth in his first major policy speech since taking becoming Labor leader.
Labor has been grappling with its direction on climate change with some seeing its embrace of ambitious plans as a reason it lost support among blue-collar workers, especially in coal-mining areas, during the May federal election.
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese wants to recast Labor's climate change policy as one of job creation and economic growth. Source: AAP
Mr Albanese is seeking to recast its climate change response as one embracing Australia's rare minerals resources industry and manufacturing potential to win over working-class voters.
“With the right planning and vision, Australia can not only continue to be an energy-exporting superpower, we can also enjoy a new manufacturing boom. This means jobs,” he told the Committee for Economic Development of Australia in Perth.
The party is conducting an internal review scrutinising its election policies, with a loss of support in coal mining areas among concerns being raised.
Mr Albanese said the “road to a low-carbon future” is not only about driving hundreds of thousands of clean energy jobs, but must also recognise the importance of traditional ones.
“The nations that will transform into manufacturing powerhouses are those that can harness the cheapest renewable energy resources,” he said.
“Yet our current policy settings barely acknowledge climate change, let alone seek to exploit the opportunities that, over time, can come with the global shift to renewables.”
Labor's Anthony Albanese will make his first major policy speech since taking the job in Perth. Source: AAP
The party has copped ongoing criticism over its equivocation on the Adani coal mine.
Resources Minister Matt Canavan accused Labor on Sunday of deserting the smelting industry.
Mr Albanese said the switch to renewables offers opportunities for Australian coal exports, pointing out it takes more than 200 tonnes of metallurgical coal to produce one wind turbine.
“Labor wants to lead the clean energy revolution,” he said.
“Australia can be the land of cheap and endless energy – energy that could power generations of metal manufacturing and other energy-intensive industries.”
Labor went to the last election with a 45 per cent emissions reduction target – more ambitious than the Coalition’s policy for a 26 to 28 per cent fall by 2030.
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese. Source: AAP
Labor frontbencher Joel Fitzgibbon recently led a push for the party to wind back its emissions target to match the Coalition’s. But the idea was rejected by Labor’s Energy spokesperson Mark Butler.
Mr Albanese said he wants the resources industry to be seen as a central component of the renewable energy revolution.
“We have the greatest reserves in the world of iron and titanium, the second greatest reserves of copper and lithium, and the third greatest deposits of silver,” he said.
“It is these minerals that will fuel the clean energy economies of the 21st [century].
“As electric vehicles, energy storage systems and smart devices become more mainstream, the global demand for lithium batters will explode.”
He also recognised the need for wealth creation to drive economic growth.
“I understand the future means we must first and foremost be in the business of creating wealth, as well as ensuring it is distributed fairly,” he said.
At the last election - the redistribution of wealth was a central tenet of Labor's high tax agenda.
“Labor is proudly and resolutely pro-growth,” Mr Albanese said.
Additional reporting: AAP
