Despite claiming that New South Wales is leading the nation and indeed the world on climate change, today the government voted against legislating net zero emissions by 2050.
 
The Bill that NSW Labor introduced to Parliament last year was modelled on similar legislation in Victoria, New Zealand and was just passed in the Federal House of Representatives. Legislating bipartisan 2030 and 2050 emissions reductions targets would have provided certainty to investors meaning local jobs and economic growth.
 
The failure of Matt Kean and the NSW Liberal Government to legislate an independent, expert commission to reduce emissions, as proposed by NSW Labor’s Bill, means that there are currently no policies in existence that will bridge the NSW government’s 2030 target of 50 per cent emissions reductions below 2005 levels and net zero emissions by 2050.

This was acknowledged by the Minister, Matt Kean, in Budget Estimates on Tuesday 26 October 2021.
 
Jihad Dib, NSW Shadow Minster for Energy and Climate Change, said:
 
“NSW Labor has offered bipartisan support to government targets and government announcements on climate change because the stakes are too high. The climate wars must end. I am deeply disappointed that the same good faith was not extended to Labor today. When does the politics end and the people come first?”
 
“Today’s vote does nothing to improve faith in government or give confidence that when it comes to climate action, the NSW Government is on our side. Failure to legislate emissions reductions targets means the NSW Government is putting the state at the back of the queue for new jobs and new investment. This government puts politics first and people last.”
 
“It’s a no brainer that legislating targets gives certainty to community, business and industry. Legislation transcends any one government or Minister.”
 
“This was an opportunity for the government to back their words with action and they chose politics.”

JIHAD DIB MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE