Energy was a key platform issue of the 2022 Federal Election as Australians took to the polls to choose their nation’s leaders. Based on an election platform of ‘Powering Australia’, the Australian Labor Party had a strong commitment to the clean energy transition and instituting real change to combat the effects of climate change.

As the Albanese Government approaches one year in power, we looked into some of its key election commitments in energy, and whether they’re delivering on these promises.

Safeguard Mechanism

A topic of contention between the parties, the Government’s proposed reforms to the existing safeguard mechanisms to “reduce emissions limits… predictably and gradually on a trajectory consistent with achieving net zero by 2050” will now become law.

After months of debate, Labor has finally secured parliamentary support for these  reforms, with the bill passing both Houses last week. The Greens were unsuccessful battle to include a mandatory preclusion to opening new gas and coal projects on domestic soil.

More than 200 of Australia’s largest polluters will be subject to the changes, which will require a reduction in emissions of 4.9% every year in order to help achieve the national target of  a 43% emissions reduction by 2030.

The Safeguard Mechanism reforms will be applied from 1 July 2023.

National Reconstruction Fund

The National Reconstruction Fund, deemed Labor’s preliminary plan to ‘rebuild Australia’s industrial base’ was officially enacted into legislation after a series of amendments were made by the Greens and members of the cross bench.

Among the successful amendments includes the mandatory preclusion of funding coal and gas projects and establishing a written policy on the impact of investments of the Corporation on First Nations Australians.

The fund will provide $15billion worth of loans, guarantees and equity to support projects the government sees as building Australia’s “national sovereign capability, broadening and diversifying Australia’s economy.”

Under the fund, renewables and low emissions technologies have been categorised as one of the priority areas set to be diversified and transformed in a bid to take advantage of opportunities in a net zero economy.

The Government have identified up to $3 billion to be spent on renewables and low emissions technologies, supporting the funding of a range of projects from wind turbines to hydrogen electrolysers. Public consultation into what should inform funding priorities was sought after earlier this year.

National Electric Vehicle Strategy

In Australia, transport makes up 19% of national emissions. Road transport is close to 85% of those emissions.

Until recently, there was no uniform approach to the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia, but several state-based policies with varying ambition.

In September 2022, the Government released a consultation document to seek views from the public to form the basis of the National Electric Vehicle Strategy. Over 500 submissions were received by individuals and organisations to form the goals, objectives and actions which would provide the make-up of the strategy.

On 19 April 2023, the National Electric Vehicle Strategy was released, providing an overview of key objectives relating to the accessibility of EVs and instituting the necessary infrastructure to accommodate their expected increased demand.

The strategy also outlines the need to establish Fuel Efficiency Standards to combat the excessive amount of carbon dioxide emitted from light vehicles currently in circulation in Australia and target their high fuel costs. The implementation of these standards will incentivise vehicle manufacturers to offer fuel efficient vehicles on Australian shores and increase our EV accessibility. Currently, Australia is one of few developed countries, including Russia, without a designated fuel efficiency standard in place.

The Coalition has not made any official comment on whether it will support the new strategy, with Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy Ted O’Brien stating it needed time to review the document.

“The Coalition will take the time to study the government’s EV Strategy. As always, we will be constructive where we can and critical where we must.”

The Greens have taken a more direct approach, with leader Adam Bandt likening it to “a roadmap but with no clear destination.”

Public consultation on what will form the standards is now being sought, with opinions from climate groups, the automotive industry, individuals and businesses welcome. The consultation period will close on 31 May 2023.

Photo Credit: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

It was barely three hours into the count on the 25 March before pollsters predicted Labor were on track to win the NSW State Election with a decisive majority.

In the following days, it became apparent that the swings towards Labor on election night were the result of a last-minute surge in popularity, occurring too late in the campaign to be reflected in the pre-poll and postal votes.

Over the next ten days, Labor’s lead dwindled, as did their hopes for a majority government.

Nonetheless as the party with most representatives in the parliament, Labor’s Chris Minns was sworn in as the State’s 47^th Premier.

With three crossbenchers guaranteeing supply and confidence, Premier Minns has succeeded Dominic Perrottet after three terms (12 years) of Liberal-National Coalition rule.

Needing 47 seats to claim a majority, Labor finished on 45 with the Coalition on 36, with three seats retained by Greens and nine going to independents.

The Greens have held their three incumbent seats of Balmain, Ballina, and Newtown, while former Shooters, Fishers, and Farmers MPs Phil Donato (Orange), Roy Butler (Barwon) and Helen Dalton (Murray) retained their Lower House seats as independents.

Independent crossbenchers Joe McGirr (Wagga Wagga), Alex Greenwich (Sydney) and Greg Piper (Lake Macquarie) also retained their seats.

Liberal turned independent, Gareth Ward, also won his seat of Kiama.

Predictions of a strong Teal independent surge reminiscent of the Federal Election did not eventuate.

Climate 200-backed candidate in Wollondilly, Judy Hannan, snatched the south-west Sydney seat from Liberal Nathaniel Smith, and Independent former Northern Beaches Council Mayor Michael Regan has taken Wakehurst from the Liberals.

Minns’ cabinet, the 100^th Ministry in NSW, was sworn in, and for the first time in the state’s history, women will make up fifty percent of the Ministry.

The Liberals will begin their rebuild with new leader Mark Speakman after former Premier Dominic Perrottet resigned as the Liberal’s leader after conceding. The former attorney-general won the top spot 22 to 13 over Anthony Roberts.

Photo Credit: NSW Labor

Long-serving Liberal staffer and current deputy mayor Stephanie Di Pasqua won preselection for the Liberals almost two weeks ago, while Julia Little is the endorsed Labor candidate. Coincidentally, yet another councillor and former deputy mayor, Charles Jago, is the Green candidate.

The seat is currently held by Liberal-turned-independent MP John Sidoti, who was forced to the crossbench after an Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation found he had acted corruptly in pressuring local government about a development in which his family held an interest.

Labor had held the seat since 1962 until Sidoti won it from Angela D’Amore in 2011. Sidoti is not expected to contest.

At the last election, Sidoti defended an 18.8 percent margin to retain Drummoyne with a 15 percent buffer. Following a redistribution of boundaries, that margin is estimated to be 13.6 percent.

Charles Jago contested the last state election and ran for Reid in the Federal poll but achieved less than 10 percent of the primary vote in both.

It is said all politics is local – and Drummoyne should show as much.

Over-development is one likely issue in an area where public transport is struggling to keep up with residential growth.

The Sydney West Metro project is already under construction to connect Parramatta to Sydney’s CBD. The 24 km, nine station line is not expected to be completed until 2030. Even though it will run underground, the potential for above-the-ground development in suburbs like Five Dock and nearby Burwood North creates a potential issue.

Education, transport and health are expected to be other key issues. The electorate only has one public high school. Breakfast Point in the electorate’s north, one of the city’s largest urban renewal projects, has difficult public transport access. Health is another perennial hot topic and it’s barely a year since the Perrottet Government opened a new $341 million tower at Concord Hospital.

Stephanie Di Pasqua worked in John Sidoti’s electorate office for five years. While her connection to the sitting MP is something media are saying she is keen to downplay, Sidoti’s likely removal of himself from the contest may reduce the ICAC finding’s potency as an issue.

Article by Craig Regan, Senior Account Director at Primary Communication

Primary Communication has been working with DDLS since 2019 and played a key role in both the internal launch and the official public launch to all stakeholders.

Over the past 30 years, DDLS has significantly expanded its services into new industries and regions. This includes the launch of an online learning business, The Australian Institute of ICT (AIICT); the recent acquisitions of Auldhouse, New Zealand’s largest ICT training provider, and Nexacu, Australia’s leading provider of Microsoft end-user training; the opening of a DDLS Philippines campus; and the growth of its business consultancy arm, DDLS People. This has resulted in several separate business divisions that will now be consolidated under one roof, Lumify Group.

The new structure will operate with Lumify Group as the overarching brand and incorporates the introduction of Lumify Learn, Lumify Work, and Lumify People. DDLS Australia, DDLS Philippines, and Auldhouse will now be known collectively as Lumify Work; DDLS People will now be known as Lumify People, and Lumify Learn will be launched in the new year as its all-new ICT Consumer training arm, incorporating AIICT.

The new name “Lumify” means to illuminate, reflecting the company’s belief in th power of learning and its ability to enlighten and transform.

For more information, please watch the Lumify Group Video and visit the website at www.lumifygroup.com