The NSW premier and energy minister have accused the federal government of being out of touch on energy and climate policy and say it's time for a change of course.
In an opinion piece in the Australian Financial Review, NSW Energy Minister Don Harwin says the market and industry are looking for certainty on emissions, and policy uncertainty will lead to higher wholesale prices and delayed investment.
"The federal government is out of touch on energy and climate policy, which is preventing new investment and prices from falling," Mr Harwin told the newspaper.
"It's time for them to change course."
He wrote in Wednesday's opinion piece that NSW wanted a "sensible emissions policy" to be embedded in the national electricity law.
"We need to end the 'climate wars' and put science, economics and engineering ahead of ideology," he wrote ahead of a Council of Australian Governments energy ministers meeting in Adelaide.
Mr Harwin said he will push for the Energy Security Board to give ministers policy options on how to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian echoed Mr Harwin's comments, saying the federal government needed to provide some certainty for investors.
"We want to have, and continue to have, strong investment in both traditional forms of energy but also renewables and we need to have a standard policy across the nation that delivers that," Ms Berejiklian told reporters.
"We'd like to see more certainty provided in that area."
Australian Associated Press
