Australia's opposition Coalition would move to dismantle a broad set of federal climate and renewable energy policies within a month of winning the next election, energy spokesperson Dan Tehan announced, in a plan that includes scrapping vehicle emissions standards, removing the legislated net zero by 2050 target, and revoking four of six designated offshore wind energy zones.
The announcement, made on behalf of opposition leader Angus Taylor, commits a future Coalition government to introducing the repeal bill to parliament within 30 days of taking office. The package targets measures that were introduced or supported by previous Coalition governments, a detail that has sharpened criticism from climate advocates and political opponents who argue the party is abandoning its own legacy.
Under the plan, the Coalition would scrap vehicle emissions standards, which set limits on average carbon dioxide output from new cars sold in Australia. It would also remove the legislated target of reaching net zero emissions by 2050, a commitment Australia made under the Paris Agreement. The net zero target has underpinned federal climate policy and investment signals for the electricity sector, industry, and international partners.
The proposal would additionally revoke four of the six offshore wind energy zones slated for completion by the late 2030s — the Hunter, Illawarra, Southern Ocean, and Bunbury regions. Offshore wind is a central component of Australia's plans to replace aging coal-fired generation and stabilize the grid as renewables expand. Cancelling those zones would remove a significant share of the pipeline for new offshore generation capacity.
Beyond repeals, the Coalition would introduce a renewable energy code of conduct for developers, require that energy funding provided to states and territories prioritize affordability and reliability, and change the Australian Energy Regulator's main focus to affordability and reliability. Taylor framed the measures as a way to ensure affordable, reliable, and secure energy for Australians.
The plan has drawn accusations that the Coalition would «let climate change rip,» a charge that reflects the breadth of the rollback and its potential to slow emissions reductions across transport, electricity, and industry. Critics note that removing the net zero target and offshore wind zones would undermine investor certainty at a time when Australia is seeking to attract capital for clean energy projects.
The timing of the announcement places climate policy at the center of the next federal election campaign. Australia is among the world's largest per-capita emitters and a major exporter of coal and gas, making its climate stance closely watched internationally. The Coalition's argument that «Australia has done its bit» signals a shift toward prioritizing domestic energy costs over international climate commitments.
If enacted, the repeals would mark one of the most significant reversals of Australian climate policy in years, affecting emissions rules for vehicles, the legal framework for the 2050 target, and the geographic scope for offshore wind development. The bill's introduction would set up a parliamentary fight over the direction of the country's energy transition.
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