Interview with Michael Rowland, ABC News Breakfast

MICHAEL ROWLAND: Now the new analysis by the Federal Energy and Climate Change Department shows Australia's on track to meet its 2030 emissions target.

Joining us now from Parliament House is appropriately the Climate Change and Energy Minister, Chris Bowen. Minister, good morning.

CHRIS BOWEN: Good morning, Michael.

MICHAEL ROWLAND: So our target is 43 per cent reduction on 2005 levels by 2030. What does this new analysis show about hitting that target?

CHRIS BOWEN: Well, what it shows is that the emissions reduction that the government's and department's forecast indicate is 42.6 compared to 37 percent at the same time last year, so it shows that the policies we've put in place, while they take a while to have their impact, will be having the impact we intended to by 2030.

Now we're not saying this is game over and there isn't more to do, but we are saying it shows we're on track for those emissions reductions targets that we went to the election with and have been implementing.

MICHAEL ROWLAND: Would you like to aim to beat that target through additional measures?

CHRIS BOWEN: Well, we've always said it's not a ceiling, we've always said we'll do as well as we can, but we also have to be realistic, we're always ambitious but also achievable and robust, but also realistic, so it is a big task, 43 per cent emissions reductions when you're starting in 2022 to reach your target by 2030. It's not long to turn the ship around.

But I'm pleased with what we've put in place so far and that all the analysis shows it's going to have the impact that we need to meet our targets.

MICHAEL ROWLAND: While we're talking targets, what about the target of 82 percent of our power from renewables by 2030? Are we on track to hit that?

CHRIS BOWEN: Yes, and the Capacity Investment Scheme that we've been rolling out has been working even better than we thought it would. Just in the last quarter, we've seen more investment in renewable energy than we did in all of last year. There's a massive pipeline of investment in the system which is equivalent to two-thirds of the National Energy Market that already exists; there's a pipeline of investment equal to two-thirds of that.

And so we are seeing very significant step-ups in renewable energy investment, we're working very closely with all the states and territories with renewable energy transformation agreements to make sure that our systems are working together on all the planning elements, for example, to get the energy build.

So the answer to your question is, yes, the things we've put in place are working to achieve both targets.

MICHAEL ROWLAND: I know we are expecting a 2035 target sometime next year, I know the government has said it may not happen this side of the election, but my general question is, is setting targets for any government now more challenging with the return of Donald Trump as President given he is intent on throwing out a lot of Joe Biden's green energy and renewable energy initiatives?

CHRIS BOWEN: Well, I guess, Michael, the accurate response to that, is we need to take into account all the factors. Under our law, which is world's best practice in setting a target, we've charged the Climate Change Authority to give the government independent advice, which we'll then consider; it would be unlawful to set a target before we receive that advice.

But that advice needs to go to our domestic opportunities, and also, obviously, the international situation, and the pace in which the rest of the world is decarbonising does have an impact on how quickly we can decarbonise when you consider how integral we are to the world's energy needs.

All these things are to be considered, but certainly I'd say this, Michael, you know, elections change, and governments and administrations change around the world, but the fundamentals don't change, that we need to deal with climate change, that renewable energy is the cheapest form of energy, and every challenge is an opportunity. If there's less renewable investment overseas, there might be more renewable investment in Australia.

But there are also, you know, ebbs and flows to the impacts of world events on us, and we'll take all those into account. I know the Climate Change Authority is doing that as well.

MICHAEL ROWLAND: Speaking of impacts, and speaking as a Senior Cabinet Minister, what do you make of Donald Trump's threats to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, and are you worried that Australia as a big exporting nation will be caught up in a damaging global trade war once Donald Trump takes office?

CHRIS BOWEN: Well, what I think is as the Treasurer has said, it is our job to strengthen the Australian economy and prepare for international events anywhere and everywhere, including, you know, those sorts of events which will have some impact on world trade.

Our opportunity and our challenge is to make the Australian economy more complex by adding more value through our manufacturing base, our Future Made in Australia agenda, to have appropriate discussions with the incoming Trump Administration, the Treasurer's been doing that quite appropriately, to ensure that Australia's best interests are taken into account. Kevin Rudd has been doing an excellent job as Ambassador on that front as well. But our job, as the Treasurer has very clearly indicated, is to make sure the Australian economy is resilient and robust for any circumstances.

MICHAEL ROWLAND: I just want to finish with a story that's still ripping at the hearts of so many Australians. That's, of course, as you'd know, Chris Bowen, the deaths of Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles in that methanol poisoning incident in Laos. Can you confirm their bodies have been returned to Australia?

CHRIS BOWEN: Look, I'm not going to comment on operational details out of respect for the family, but obviously that operation is underway, and I think we just all look at this with a heavy heart, and say, this is just the most unspeakable circumstances, and I guess, Michael, if anything can come out of this, those of us with, you know, teenage kids, and kids travelling, you know, just a reminder to look out for yourself when you're travelling in the most difficult circumstances, work with Smartraveller. But I mean, I think all our hearts just go to out the families in this just unspeakably bad situation.

MICHAEL ROWLAND: Yep. Well said. Chris Bowen, thank you so much for joining us.

CHRIS BOWEN: Thanks Michael.