In a press conference on 13 November, the Hon. Dan Tehan MP referred to comments made by Professor Ross Garnaut, suggesting that Professor Garnaut had described Australia’s emissions-reduction and renewable-energy targets as “completely unachievable.”
Mr Tehan stated:
“If you look at the statements that have come out of AEMO… they have to take into account net zero by 2050. They have to take into account renewable energy being reached at 82% by 2030. That all cascades down and that’s what’s driving your power bill up.
And not only that, you’ve got experts like Ross Garnaut coming out and saying that those approaches, those targets, are completely unachievable.”
Professor Garnaut has clarified that this is not an accurate representation of his view. In response, he said:
“In my July speech to open the Clean Energy Council conference, I said that we would not reach the government’s emissions-reduction and renewable-energy targets under current policies. That is not the same as saying the targets are ‘completely unattainable’.”
Professor Garnaut has consistently stated that Australia’s targets are achievable and in the national interest, and that reaching them requires stronger and more efficient policy settings.
The full text of Professor Garnaut’s remarks to the Australian Clean Energy Summit (July 2025) is available here.