The Climate Change Authority will soon recommend to the Albanese government a 2035 emissions reduction target.

Whatever the target is – most experts believe the authority will recommend a 65 per cent to 75 per cent reduction against 2005 levels – and whatever the Albanese government decides, it is all but certain to reignite several political fights over Australian climate policy, simultaneously.

Illustration by Simon LetchCredit:

Some green groups will probably argue it doesn’t go far enough. Some business groups will probably argue it will hurt business and push up costs, particularly for manufacturers. The Coalition will remain split, with the Nationals and some Liberals arguing the costs are too high and that Australia should quit the Paris Agreement. Other Liberals will push back and argue that having an emissions target and remaining in the Paris climate deal is the price of entry for the Coalition to at least start winning back the huge swath of metropolitan seats it has lost at the past two elections.

Meanwhile, there is a debate playing out within the Albanese government right now, hidden from view, that will have a vital role in determining the eventual 2035 target. It’s a debate that has pitted Treasurer Jim Chalmers against Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen.

Currently, those who own or lease electric vehicles pay next to nothing to use Australia’s roads. As they don’t use petrol or diesel, they don’t pay the fuel taxes that help keep our roads in (mostly) good order.

Chalmers has been crab-walking towards introducing road-user........

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