The Repeal Net Zero Bill 2025 would abolish Australia’s current statutory Net Zero policy, its greenhouse gas targets and the suite of related legislation established since 2022. It aims to dismantle subsidies, reporting requirements and regulatory bodies tied to Net Zero on the basis that they harm the economy, drive up energy costs and do not meaningfully affect global climate outcomes.
The Repeal Net Zero Bill 2025 repeals the following Acts via Schedule 1, Part 1:
Schedule 1, Part 2 makes consequential amendments to:
Clause 2 provides that the Act commences on the day after Royal Assent. Clause 3 confirms that each Schedule item has effect according to its terms. The Bill therefore dismantles the federal framework of targets, subsidies, guarantees of origin and reporting obligations that underpin Australia’s Net Zero 2050 commitment.
Economic Relief and Cost-of-Living: The current Net Zero policy imposes billions in subsidies and compliance costs that are ultimately borne by taxpayers and consumers. Repealing it will lower energy prices, reduce household bills and free up capital for productive investment, thereby maximising aggregate well-being.
National Security and Sovereign Capacity: Overreliance on intermittent renewables without competitive support for coal and gas undermines Australia’s reliable baseload generation and energy resilience. Removing Net Zero mandates restores strategic energy independence, strengthening our capacity to respond to geopolitical shocks.
Protecting Property Rights and Economic Freedom: Net Zero legislation expands regulatory burdens on property owners, farmers and manufacturers. Its repeal reaffirms fundamental rights to use land and capital without excessive state intervention, thereby promoting innovation, jobs growth and long-term prosperity [Judgment].
International Obligations: Repealing Net Zero undermines Australia’s commitments under the UN Paris Agreement to pursue efforts to limit global temperature rise. Abandoning these targets damages our credibility and may invite diplomatic or trade reprisals.
Long-Term Risk Management: Climate change poses systemic risks—extreme weather, sea-level rise and biodiversity loss—that impose substantial social and economic costs. Continuing Net Zero policy is the only viable pathway to avoid irreversible environmental harm and future disaster relief burdens.
Investment and Innovation: A stable long-term emissions framework incentivises renewable technology development, clean-energy jobs and green finance. Repeal would erode investor confidence, slow the transition away from fossil fuels and lock in higher emissions trajectories with greater downstream costs [Judgment].
2025-09-04
Senate
Before Senate
CANAVAN, Sen Matthew
Unspecified
Climate Change / Environment, Energy Policy, Industrial Policy