Ai Group congratulates Coalition but says we need change

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (quad)

Ai Group congratulated Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his colleagues on the re-election of the Coalition Government, but alluded that things in the energy sector aren’t looking up in their current state.

Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox said the Coalition win is an opportunity to put aside past divisions and move more confidently on delivering policies, which will benefit the community and our economy.

“A key measure of success will be the extent to which the Government is able to assert national leadership to promote investment, job creation, broader community prosperity and social cohesion,” Ms Willcox said.

“Another imperative for the … Government is to develop credible, durable and well-integrated climate and energy policies.

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“If we continue with a succession of rapidly reversed policies or no policy at all, at best we will see a costly patchwork of state and localised interventions, and at worst we will see our current energy disadvantage cemented and a receding ability to meet our emissions targets.

“Our thanks go to Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and his team for the consultative approach they provided in the lead-up to the election.

“All put in a tremendous effort to return to government. While we differed on a number of policy fronts, the opposition should be congratulated for putting forward such a detailed policy agenda.

“We look forward to working constructively with all members of the new Parliament and in particular with the new Ministers and Shadow Ministers.”

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