New Prime Minister Angus Taylor vows to scrap key climate and renewable policies within month

After becoming prime minister, Angus Taylor pledged to introduce legislation in the next 30 days that would dismantle a suite of emissions-reduction and renewable-energy policies enacted by previous Coalition governments. The bill, outlined by energy minister Dan Tehan, would eliminate the safeguard mechanism, nuclear prohibitions, vehicle emissions standards and the statutory net-zero-by-2050 target, while also cancelling four offshore wind zones slated for the late 2030s. It proposes a renewable-energy code of conduct, redirects state energy funding toward affordability, and reorients the Australian Energy Regulator toward price stability.

Labor’s energy minister Chris Bowen condemned the plan as a “chainsaw” to the economy, and opposition figures Monique Ryan and Mehreen Faruqi called it dangerous climate denial. Environmental NGOs, including the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Climate Council, warned the rollback would increase pollution, undermine jobs in low-carbon sectors and expose Australians to more extreme weather. Farmers for Climate Action, representing thousands of growers, expressed disappointment, saying the move jeopardises climate resilience for agriculture.