Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I have received a letter today from Senator McLucas in regard to statements I made last week. I am happy to clarify my comments for Senator McLucas. In her letter, Senator McLucas quoted me saying in the Senate last week, 'I have never suggested that the renewable energy target should be scrapped.' I have reviewed my comments and, to my knowledge, I have never called for the RET to be scrapped. Senator McLucas has drawn my attention to an opinion piece that I wrote last year, which said in part:

As an economically damaging protectionist policy, the RET should be removed.

The very next sentence in that opinion piece stated:

The adjustment should be done over time and the costs should be shared between fossil fuel, energy-intensive and renewable sectors alike.

I am happy to clarify that my opinion piece called for the RET to be removed over time, not scrapped—a position consistent with the policy itself, as it is currently legislated to close in 2030.