Say no: RET cut another act of intergenerational theft

The Greens are calling on Labor to reject the Abbott government's ‘offer' to cut the Renewable Energy Target.

"This is just like the government's cuts to Medicare and universities. Attacking clean energy is bad policy that will cost Australians, immediately and for generations to come," said Greens Leader Christine Milne.

"Labor must not shake on a bad deal that will destroy renewable energy, destroy jobs, drive power bills up, and keep Australia reliant on dirty power.

"The ACF report out today shows the biggest polluters, driving global warming in Australia, are the coal fired generators. But the Liberals want to protect their profits and keep us reliant on them for as long as possible.

"If you want to close something down, Mr Macfarlane, close down coal. Let the Renewable Energy Target keep working to transform Australia.

"The Parliament has protected Australians from so many bad Abbott government policies; we need to stand together, stand firm, and tell the Liberals it's time to drop their attack on the RET.

"Labor says they support renewable energy workers and they support action on global warming.

"Well, Mr Shorten, don't become wedded to a bad government by accepting their bad proposal. Stand up for the 89% of Australians who love our clean energy laws just as they are," said Senator Milne.

"An offer of 32,000GWh is an offer to destroy the renewable energy industry, prevent billions of dollars of investment and new jobs, make global warming worse, and push up everyone's electricity bills. Why would anyone think that's an attractive proposal?

"The only person who wants that is Tony Abbot who governs for Australia's biggest polluters - AGL, Origin and Energy Australia - which stand to maximise their own profits."