Invest
Australians protest ‘nonsensical’ gas-led recovery
Advocates for climate action have marched in Canberra, demanding that the government remove its plan for a fossil fuel-dependent economic recovery.

Australians protest ‘nonsensical’ gas-led recovery
Advocates for climate action have marched in Canberra, demanding that the government remove its plan for a fossil fuel-dependent economic recovery.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has previously outlined his vision for a gas-led economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, declaring that the cheap and reliable power will help boost the economy.
However, members of the Peoples Climate Assembly (PCA) have marched on the lawns of Parliament House on the first sitting day of the year to challenge the government’s “nonsensical” decision to favour gas over renewable energy.
“While countries and corporations around the world are abandoning fossil fuels, we have to ask ourselves why our government is ignoring the very clear science and rapidly shifting market forces,” PCA spokesperson John Smith said.
Mr Smith said the bushfire crisis rapidly gave way to storms and floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic which, in addition to far-reaching and tragic social and economic disruption, broke the enormous momentum that climate rallies had achieved.
“On Tuesday, the people will gather again to tell the government there is no more free ride,” said Mr Smith.
“We will not remain silent as the government sets us on a dangerous path.”
Along with the rally, the PCA has started a petition to the House of Representatives, where Independent MP Andrew Wilkie will call the House to reject the gas-led recovery and instead develop a COVID recovery package that stimulates green jobs.
“A ‘gas-led’ recovery will only stoke the fires of climate change, and cost the nation dearly in terms of jobs, industry, environment and global reputation,” Mr Smith said.
While the protestors marched on Parliament, the Prime Minister rejected the idea of introducing a carbon tax as a way of reaching net zero emissions.
“I’m not putting on a carbon tax, and I’m not putting up the GST,” Mr Morrison said to the National Press Gallery on Monday, 1 February.
“They’re just tax increases. That’s all they are.”
Instead, the PM would look to invest in new skills and training for younger Australians, as well as focusing on improved technology to reduce carbon emissions.
“If you don’t get there by technology, if that’s not used, then the only way to get there is by a tax,” he said.
About the author

About the author


Commodity
Should you invest in gold or bitcoin?
With massive stimulus packages around the world leading to rising inflation expectations, investors are increasingly turning to stores of wealth, with Australians preferring digital assets to gold, ne...Read more

Commodity
2021 to kick off 3-year-long investor heaven, property investors predict
Property investors unanimously agree that 2021 will kick off a three-year favourable investor environment with strong price growth. ...Read more

Commodity
Joining the buyers club: How to build a hefty passive income in your 20s or 70s?
“2021 is going to be the year of low stock levels, low interest rates, increased confidence and the chase for yield as people look to replace their incomes.” ...Read more

Commodity
How this investor entered the market 4 years after the last boom
Although he looked to capitalise on Sydney’s property boom a decade ago, luck would have it that Rizul Makkar would only begin to build his property portfolio four years later. ...Read more

Commodity
Electricity price hikes are coming, expert warns
The opening of Santos’ Narrabri gas pipeline will likely see consumers pay a higher price for gas, an expert has said. ...Read more

Commodity
Morrison’s technology roadmap slammed
The latest Coalition energy initiative has been slammed by a union body, which claimed that it is a substitute for a coherent national energy climate policy. ...Read more

Commodity
What’s so precious about metal?
As countries continue to battle the COVID-19 health pandemic, investors are turning to the safe havens of precious metals — a trend that’s likely to continue, according to an expert. ...Read more

Commodity
Global chocolate consumption melts on COVID-19 outbreak
The COVID-19 crisis has taken a bite out of chocolate sales, collapsing the price of cocoa, according to new research. ...Read more

Commodity
Should you invest in gold or bitcoin?
With massive stimulus packages around the world leading to rising inflation expectations, investors are increasingly turning to stores of wealth, with Australians preferring digital assets to gold, ne...Read more

Commodity
2021 to kick off 3-year-long investor heaven, property investors predict
Property investors unanimously agree that 2021 will kick off a three-year favourable investor environment with strong price growth. ...Read more

Commodity
Joining the buyers club: How to build a hefty passive income in your 20s or 70s?
“2021 is going to be the year of low stock levels, low interest rates, increased confidence and the chase for yield as people look to replace their incomes.” ...Read more

Commodity
How this investor entered the market 4 years after the last boom
Although he looked to capitalise on Sydney’s property boom a decade ago, luck would have it that Rizul Makkar would only begin to build his property portfolio four years later. ...Read more

Commodity
Electricity price hikes are coming, expert warns
The opening of Santos’ Narrabri gas pipeline will likely see consumers pay a higher price for gas, an expert has said. ...Read more

Commodity
Morrison’s technology roadmap slammed
The latest Coalition energy initiative has been slammed by a union body, which claimed that it is a substitute for a coherent national energy climate policy. ...Read more

Commodity
What’s so precious about metal?
As countries continue to battle the COVID-19 health pandemic, investors are turning to the safe havens of precious metals — a trend that’s likely to continue, according to an expert. ...Read more

Commodity
Global chocolate consumption melts on COVID-19 outbreak
The COVID-19 crisis has taken a bite out of chocolate sales, collapsing the price of cocoa, according to new research. ...Read more