Media

One of Australia’s largest proposed coal projects could absorb more in diesel tax exemptions in its lifetime than the initial sum sunk into its construction, environmental groups say. About $44 million a year would be rebated to Whitehaven for its Winchester South coal mine under the fuel tax credit scheme, which is facing renewed scrutiny for its drag on public finances and decarbonisation goals. Read more

Danish firm Orsted has launched a lawsuit against the administration this week for preventing work on its offshore wind project when it was 80 per cent complete. The market instability is making companies rethink investments in the technology, Climate Energy Finance director Tim Buckley says. “We’ve just had a reality check from Trump destroying offshore wind in the US,” he says. “Offshore wind is going to be a very financially challenged proposition here in Australia.” Read more

Tim Buckley, energy analyst at Climate Energy Finance, explains the strategic importance of a new rare earth discovery amid the global shift to renewables. Rare earths, though niche, are critical for technologies like EVs and wind turbines. China dominates global supply, making non-Chinese sources like Australia vital, especially during US-China trade tensions. The Australian government may support viable projects for sovereign capability. However, environmental concerns exist due to radioactivity and mining impacts, raising questions about social and geopolitical consequences. Read more

The exposé accuses Climate Energy Finance of proposing something truly radical – capping mining fuel tax breaks and redirecting the savings to renewable energy. The evidence of foreign manipulation? A decade-old university donation, a couple of routine business partnerships and the apparently treasonous act of acknowledging that China manufactures solar panels. Welcome to McCarthyism for the climate age, where any policy that trims fossil profits gets recast as Beijing’s master plan. The guilt-by-association game begins with CEF’s supposed “partners linked to the Chinese Government”. Read more

The Climate Change Authority’s weekly newsletter On Good Authority takes a closer look at recent climate and energy news from Australia and around the world with the most recent edition featuring our Fuel Tax Credit Scheme Report: “ Calls for changes to Australia’s Fuel Tax Credit scheme could unlock over $13.6bn of clean investment by 2030. The scheme subsidises imported diesel used off-road, mainly in mining.’ Read more

Forest Wind is the second approved wind farm to be cancelled by the conservative state government, following the axing of the $1 billion Moonlight Range project in May. Repealing a law and cancelling developments under it will send a message to all investors in Queensland that their work is at risk, says Climate Energy Finance director Tim Buckley. Read more

The WA Environment Protection Authority said South Korean company POSCO’s plan to use the potent greenhouse gas methane to make green iron was justified because it would reduce global emissions compared to a scenario where the same iron ore was sent to Asia to be cooked with coking coal in a blast furnace. The decision to take a “global” view of project emissions was welcomed by decarbonisation advocates. Read more

In the four-page story, she then provides a potted history of China’s economic pathway from the 1990s until the 10-year “Made in China” plan made renewable energy essential to bring their heating emissions down. She quotes Chinese women scientists revealing the country’s energy transformation as “staggering”. Caroline Wang, the China engagement lead at the think tank Climate Energy Finance says: “Clean manufacturers have made themselves indispensable in the new kind of global economy.” Read more

CEF’s new report on Diesel Fuel Rebate subsidy reform “Transition Tax Incentive: Reforming Fuel Tax Credits into a Decarbonisation Tailwind”. A policy proposal to phase-out the fuel tax credit scheme for its largest beneficiaries with a transition tax incentive scheme to accelerate electrification and decarbonisation. Since the Fuel Tax Act 2006 (starting FY07), the FTC Scheme has provided $123bn in diesel subsidies to FY25. Beyond this, by FY30, it will have provided $184bn in subsidies. Read more

Australia is fossil fuel dependent – supplying half the globes’ iron ore, and nearly as much coking coal. In a world that’s looking to get away from fossil fuels, this is a problem. What can Australia do to maintain its mineral wealth and meet emissions targets? Rear Vision drills down into our coal and iron-ore industries. And asks, can Green Iron save us? Read more

Climate Energy Finance Director Tim Buckley has called for reform of Australia’s diesel fuel subsidy. This comes as business groups have expressed concern following Labor’s economic reform roundtable. “What we have called for is a $50 million per company, per annum cap to the diesel fuel rebate,” Mr Buckley told Sky News Australia. “Not one farmer, not one truck driver, not one small or medium-sized enterprise will be affected; it only affects the 15 largest mining companies in Australia.” Read more

Caroline Wang, the China engagement lead at the Australian think tank Climate Energy Finance, said: “Rising protectionism and supply chain regionalisation have led to a trend by Chinese firms moving from export of products to export of industry, that is localising manufacturing. “On standard-setting, the Chinese government is pushing for the development of standards in the green and low-carbon sector of industry and information technology, and to improve and enhance the green and low-carbon standards system.” Read more