Transparency gaps cloud $2m Folbigg compensation offer
The NSW government is refusing to budge on the sum, with the state's premier saying Ms Folbigg would need to go to court for more, despite widespread criticism of the payout amount.
High-profile lawyer Sam Tierney said $2 million appeared to be low for her 20 years in jail.
Mr Tierney represented David Eastman in his $7 million compensation win against the ACT government after being wrongly convicted of AFP assistant commissioner Colin Winchester's murder.
Serious concerns about the transparency of the ex gratia payment process would persist until governments handed over powers to the courts or released reasons for their decision, he said.
"It seems only fair and reasonable and sensible that the decision maker would issue reasons explaining why they arrived at a particular figure," Mr Tierney told AAP.
"State and commonwealth legislatures should look very seriously at implementing Human Rights Acts so that courts can be empowered to properly review these situations."
Ms Folbigg was jailed over the deaths of her four children before being freed in June 2023 after new scientific evidence cast reasonable doubt about her convictions.
Premier Chris Minns said her lawyers were free to sue the government if they felt the offer was inadequate, but he wouldn't budge without a court order.
"There's no future action that cannot be pursued by Ms Folbigg or her lawyers," he said on Friday.
NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley's office declined to comment when asked whether it would release the reasons for the decision.
Despite his former client's success, Mr Tierney said Ms Folbigg would struggle to appeal against the offer she received on Thursday.
"If there are no reasons issued by the decision maker, then it's very difficult to attack the decision that's been made," the lawyer said.
Unlike court-run compensation claims, which have precedents, ex gratia payments are one-off matters and are a decision of state cabinets.
Arguing about the viability of a $2 million payment in a state budget of billions of dollars was "a little trite", Mr Tierney said.
Against the NSW annual budget of $128 billion, the amount offered to Ms Folbigg represents about 0.0015 per cent.
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the government's offer was unfair and far too low.
"This is all about showing some empathy for someone whose conviction has been overturned," he told Nine's Today show.
"Her conviction was wrongful. She suffered enormously."
Ms Folbigg's solicitor previously described the payment offer as a "moral affront".
"The system has failed Kathleen Folbigg once again," Rhanee Rego said.
Greens MP Sue Higginson described it as "an absolute slap in the face".
AUSTRALIANS WRONGLY CONVICTED OF HOMICIDE:
* Darryl Beamish - convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 1961, paroled in 1971, conviction overturned in 2005. Received $425,000 in 2011.
* John Button - convicted of manslaughter in 1963, released in 1968. Conviction quashed and received $400,000 in compensation in 2002.
* Lindy Chamberlain - convicted of the murder of her daughter Azaria in 1982, released in 1986 and pardoned in 1988. Received $1.3 million in compensation in 1992.
* Andrew Mallard - convicted of murder in 1995, conviction quashed by the High Court and released in 2006. Received $3.25 million in compensation in 2009.
* David Eastman - convicted in 1995 of the murder of AFP assistant commissioner Colin Winchester. Conviction quashed and released in 2014. Acquitted on retrial in 2018. Awarded $7 million in compensation in 2019.
* Kathleen Folbigg - convicted of the murder of three and manslaughter of one of her children in 2003. Pardoned and released in 2023. Offered $2 million compensation.
Secrecy surrounds why Kathleen Folbigg has been offered $2 million for decades of wrongful imprisonment, with concerns the compensation system risks undermining the principles of open justice.
The NSW government is refusing to budge on the sum, with the state's premier saying Ms Folbigg would need to go to court for more, despite widespread criticism of the payout amount.
High-profile lawyer Sam Tierney said $2 million appeared to be low for her 20 years in jail.
Mr Tierney represented David Eastman in his $7 million compensation win against the ACT government after being wrongly convicted of AFP assistant commissioner Colin Winchester's murder.
Serious concerns about the transparency of the ex gratia payment process would persist until governments handed over powers to the courts or released reasons for their decision, he said.
"It seems only fair and reasonable and sensible that the decision maker would issue reasons explaining why they arrived at a particular figure," Mr Tierney told AAP.
"State and commonwealth legislatures should look very seriously at implementing Human Rights Acts so that courts can be empowered to properly review these situations."
Ms Folbigg was jailed over the deaths of her four children before being freed in June 2023 after new scientific evidence cast reasonable doubt about her convictions.
Premier Chris Minns said her lawyers were free to sue the government if they felt the offer was inadequate, but he wouldn't budge without a court order.
"There's no future action that cannot be pursued by Ms Folbigg or her lawyers," he said on Friday.
NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley's office declined to comment when asked whether it would release the reasons for the decision.
Despite his former client's success, Mr Tierney said Ms Folbigg would struggle to appeal against the offer she received on Thursday.
"If there are no reasons issued by the decision maker, then it's very difficult to attack the decision that's been made," the lawyer said.
Unlike court-run compensation claims, which have precedents, ex gratia payments are one-off matters and are a decision of state cabinets.
Arguing about the viability of a $2 million payment in a state budget of billions of dollars was "a little trite", Mr Tierney said.
Against the NSW annual budget of $128 billion, the amount offered to Ms Folbigg represents about 0.0015 per cent.
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the government's offer was unfair and far too low.
"This is all about showing some empathy for someone whose conviction has been overturned," he told Nine's Today show.
"Her conviction was wrongful. She suffered enormously."
Ms Folbigg's solicitor previously described the payment offer as a "moral affront".
"The system has failed Kathleen Folbigg once again," Rhanee Rego said.
Greens MP Sue Higginson described it as "an absolute slap in the face".
AUSTRALIANS WRONGLY CONVICTED OF HOMICIDE:
* Darryl Beamish - convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 1961, paroled in 1971, conviction overturned in 2005. Received $425,000 in 2011.
* John Button - convicted of manslaughter in 1963, released in 1968. Conviction quashed and received $400,000 in compensation in 2002.
* Lindy Chamberlain - convicted of the murder of her daughter Azaria in 1982, released in 1986 and pardoned in 1988. Received $1.3 million in compensation in 1992.
* Andrew Mallard - convicted of murder in 1995, conviction quashed by the High Court and released in 2006. Received $3.25 million in compensation in 2009.
* David Eastman - convicted in 1995 of the murder of AFP assistant commissioner Colin Winchester. Conviction quashed and released in 2014. Acquitted on retrial in 2018. Awarded $7 million in compensation in 2019.
* Kathleen Folbigg - convicted of the murder of three and manslaughter of one of her children in 2003. Pardoned and released in 2023. Offered $2 million compensation.
Secrecy surrounds why Kathleen Folbigg has been offered $2 million for decades of wrongful imprisonment, with concerns the compensation system risks undermining the principles of open justice.
The NSW government is refusing to budge on the sum, with the state's premier saying Ms Folbigg would need to go to court for more, despite widespread criticism of the payout amount.
High-profile lawyer Sam Tierney said $2 million appeared to be low for her 20 years in jail.
Mr Tierney represented David Eastman in his $7 million compensation win against the ACT government after being wrongly convicted of AFP assistant commissioner Colin Winchester's murder.
Serious concerns about the transparency of the ex gratia payment process would persist until governments handed over powers to the courts or released reasons for their decision, he said.
"It seems only fair and reasonable and sensible that the decision maker would issue reasons explaining why they arrived at a particular figure," Mr Tierney told AAP.
"State and commonwealth legislatures should look very seriously at implementing Human Rights Acts so that courts can be empowered to properly review these situations."
Ms Folbigg was jailed over the deaths of her four children before being freed in June 2023 after new scientific evidence cast reasonable doubt about her convictions.
Premier Chris Minns said her lawyers were free to sue the government if they felt the offer was inadequate, but he wouldn't budge without a court order.
"There's no future action that cannot be pursued by Ms Folbigg or her lawyers," he said on Friday.
NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley's office declined to comment when asked whether it would release the reasons for the decision.
Despite his former client's success, Mr Tierney said Ms Folbigg would struggle to appeal against the offer she received on Thursday.
"If there are no reasons issued by the decision maker, then it's very difficult to attack the decision that's been made," the lawyer said.
Unlike court-run compensation claims, which have precedents, ex gratia payments are one-off matters and are a decision of state cabinets.
Arguing about the viability of a $2 million payment in a state budget of billions of dollars was "a little trite", Mr Tierney said.
Against the NSW annual budget of $128 billion, the amount offered to Ms Folbigg represents about 0.0015 per cent.
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the government's offer was unfair and far too low.
"This is all about showing some empathy for someone whose conviction has been overturned," he told Nine's Today show.
"Her conviction was wrongful. She suffered enormously."
Ms Folbigg's solicitor previously described the payment offer as a "moral affront".
"The system has failed Kathleen Folbigg once again," Rhanee Rego said.
Greens MP Sue Higginson described it as "an absolute slap in the face".
AUSTRALIANS WRONGLY CONVICTED OF HOMICIDE:
* Darryl Beamish - convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 1961, paroled in 1971, conviction overturned in 2005. Received $425,000 in 2011.
* John Button - convicted of manslaughter in 1963, released in 1968. Conviction quashed and received $400,000 in compensation in 2002.
* Lindy Chamberlain - convicted of the murder of her daughter Azaria in 1982, released in 1986 and pardoned in 1988. Received $1.3 million in compensation in 1992.
* Andrew Mallard - convicted of murder in 1995, conviction quashed by the High Court and released in 2006. Received $3.25 million in compensation in 2009.
* David Eastman - convicted in 1995 of the murder of AFP assistant commissioner Colin Winchester. Conviction quashed and released in 2014. Acquitted on retrial in 2018. Awarded $7 million in compensation in 2019.
* Kathleen Folbigg - convicted of the murder of three and manslaughter of one of her children in 2003. Pardoned and released in 2023. Offered $2 million compensation.
Secrecy surrounds why Kathleen Folbigg has been offered $2 million for decades of wrongful imprisonment, with concerns the compensation system risks undermining the principles of open justice.
The NSW government is refusing to budge on the sum, with the state's premier saying Ms Folbigg would need to go to court for more, despite widespread criticism of the payout amount.
High-profile lawyer Sam Tierney said $2 million appeared to be low for her 20 years in jail.
Mr Tierney represented David Eastman in his $7 million compensation win against the ACT government after being wrongly convicted of AFP assistant commissioner Colin Winchester's murder.
Serious concerns about the transparency of the ex gratia payment process would persist until governments handed over powers to the courts or released reasons for their decision, he said.
"It seems only fair and reasonable and sensible that the decision maker would issue reasons explaining why they arrived at a particular figure," Mr Tierney told AAP.
"State and commonwealth legislatures should look very seriously at implementing Human Rights Acts so that courts can be empowered to properly review these situations."
Ms Folbigg was jailed over the deaths of her four children before being freed in June 2023 after new scientific evidence cast reasonable doubt about her convictions.
Premier Chris Minns said her lawyers were free to sue the government if they felt the offer was inadequate, but he wouldn't budge without a court order.
"There's no future action that cannot be pursued by Ms Folbigg or her lawyers," he said on Friday.
NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley's office declined to comment when asked whether it would release the reasons for the decision.
Despite his former client's success, Mr Tierney said Ms Folbigg would struggle to appeal against the offer she received on Thursday.
"If there are no reasons issued by the decision maker, then it's very difficult to attack the decision that's been made," the lawyer said.
Unlike court-run compensation claims, which have precedents, ex gratia payments are one-off matters and are a decision of state cabinets.
Arguing about the viability of a $2 million payment in a state budget of billions of dollars was "a little trite", Mr Tierney said.
Against the NSW annual budget of $128 billion, the amount offered to Ms Folbigg represents about 0.0015 per cent.
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the government's offer was unfair and far too low.
"This is all about showing some empathy for someone whose conviction has been overturned," he told Nine's Today show.
"Her conviction was wrongful. She suffered enormously."
Ms Folbigg's solicitor previously described the payment offer as a "moral affront".
"The system has failed Kathleen Folbigg once again," Rhanee Rego said.
Greens MP Sue Higginson described it as "an absolute slap in the face".
AUSTRALIANS WRONGLY CONVICTED OF HOMICIDE:
* Darryl Beamish - convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 1961, paroled in 1971, conviction overturned in 2005. Received $425,000 in 2011.
* John Button - convicted of manslaughter in 1963, released in 1968. Conviction quashed and received $400,000 in compensation in 2002.
* Lindy Chamberlain - convicted of the murder of her daughter Azaria in 1982, released in 1986 and pardoned in 1988. Received $1.3 million in compensation in 1992.
* Andrew Mallard - convicted of murder in 1995, conviction quashed by the High Court and released in 2006. Received $3.25 million in compensation in 2009.
* David Eastman - convicted in 1995 of the murder of AFP assistant commissioner Colin Winchester. Conviction quashed and released in 2014. Acquitted on retrial in 2018. Awarded $7 million in compensation in 2019.
* Kathleen Folbigg - convicted of the murder of three and manslaughter of one of her children in 2003. Pardoned and released in 2023. Offered $2 million compensation.
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7NEWS
2 hours ago
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Kathleen Folbigg review push as $2 million compensation for wrongful imprisonment ‘plucked out of the air'
A $2 million offer to a woman wrongfully imprisoned for two decades will face further scrutiny as decision-makers blame budget constraints for a figure critics say was 'plucked out of the air'. NSW Premier Chris Minns and Attorney-General Michael Daley have been urged to reconsider the ex gratia payment offered to Kathleen Folbigg. Folbigg was jailed in 2003 over the deaths of her four children before being freed in 2023 after new scientific evidence cast reasonable doubt over her convictions, which were later quashed. Minns said the $2 million was taxpayer funds and did not come from a 'magic pot'. 'This was the most amount of money that we believed we could allocate ... without pulling it away from other important programs,' Minns said. Compensation has been paid to others in the past after legal action and Minns said Folbigg was free to sue the government. Daley announced the payment on Thursday, more than a year after a compensation claim was submitted. After telling reporters the payment was offered to close down a push for a parliamentary inquiry, Nationals MP Wes Fang said the government was seeking to avoid scrutiny. 'It wasn't a coincidence,' he told AAP. He said the $2 million was a 'round figure' and the government had not revealed any information on how it was calculated. 'That raises concerns that there's been no evidentiary basis for that offer - it's just been plucked out of the air,' Fang said. He said the push for an inquiry was more important than ever. 'Mainstream everyday Australians have found the figure to be quite an affront,' Fang said. 'There's a growing call to understand how there's been the assessment done, and what assessments have been done.' Greens MP Sue Higginson said the issue went beyond Folbigg. 'It's very rare you get such a serious failing of the legal system and you get wrongful conviction and incarceration to this degree, but to suggest it will never happen again is just wrong,'' she said. 'It will, and we need a system of credibility with a bit of integrity about how we are going to address these injustices.' Higginson accepted the budget had constraints. 'But I know there's room in the budget right now to give Kathleen something more than $2 million, something more commensurate with the harm that the justice system has perpetrated,' she said. Higginson wrote to the premier and attorney-general on Friday, saying it remained 'immensely challenging' to understand how the figure was calculated and urging them to review it. 'I also implore you to meet with Folbigg and her team in negotiating an offer of ex gratia payment that reflects the extraordinary nature of this case,' she wrote. The premier and attorney-general are due before budget estimates later in August while calls for an inquiry into the payment could be furthered when parliament resumes in September.
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While Mr Trump raised tariffs against dozens of nations, he showed mercy on Australia and kept levies against most products at 10 per cent. But New Zealand was not spared and was hit with a 15 per cent "reciprocal" tariff. At the most recent leaders' meeting in Canberra in 2024, Mr Albanese and Mr Luxon discussed migration and creating a closer defence partnership. David Capie, another professor from Victoria University of Wellington, said the Luxon government had leaned into its partnership with Australia since coming to power. "You've got a New Zealand government that wants to do more with Australia," the NZ foreign and defence policy expert told AAP. "The upending of the economic order with the Trump tariffs, the Middle East - all of those things NZ and Australia are finding that they're very closely aligned." Yet deportation remains a point of friction, as New Zealand has long protested Australia's practice of deporting criminals with Kiwi passports but with stronger ties to Australia. After the 2024 meeting, the two leaders agreed to "engage closely" on the matter. Prof Capie said the issue hadn't faded away completely but was being more delicately handled compared to the Morrison government era. "You had a lot of deportations and a government that was basically basking in it," he said. "But more importantly, the structural changes to the rights of New Zealanders to be able to find a pathway to citizenship mean that there are going to be fewer and fewer over time." Mr Albanese is expected to be welcomed in a pōwhiri, a formal Māori welcoming ceremony, before he meets with Mr Luxon on Saturday. He will also meet with Australian and New Zealand business leaders and take part in a business roundtable. Defence, economic partnerships and security will be on the agenda for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese when he meets his New Zealand counterpart. Mr Albanese will spend the weekend in Queenstown for the annual Australia-New Zealand leaders meeting with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. It will be the second time across the Tasman for Mr Albanese, who last visited in 2023 to meet with then-Labour prime minister Chris Hipkins. Mr Albanese and Mr Luxon represent opposite ends of the political spectrum, but both have affirmed their nations share a "deep and enduring bond" as friends, neighbours and allies. "I look forward to discussing how we can work together to build on our single economic market, modernise the rules-based trading system, deepen our alliance, and back our Pacific partners," Mr Albanese said. The single economic market was established in 2009 to grow trade and deepen investment links between the two countries, making it easier for trans-Tasman business. 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While Mr Trump raised tariffs against dozens of nations, he showed mercy on Australia and kept levies against most products at 10 per cent. But New Zealand was not spared and was hit with a 15 per cent "reciprocal" tariff. At the most recent leaders' meeting in Canberra in 2024, Mr Albanese and Mr Luxon discussed migration and creating a closer defence partnership. David Capie, another professor from Victoria University of Wellington, said the Luxon government had leaned into its partnership with Australia since coming to power. "You've got a New Zealand government that wants to do more with Australia," the NZ foreign and defence policy expert told AAP. "The upending of the economic order with the Trump tariffs, the Middle East - all of those things NZ and Australia are finding that they're very closely aligned." Yet deportation remains a point of friction, as New Zealand has long protested Australia's practice of deporting criminals with Kiwi passports but with stronger ties to Australia. After the 2024 meeting, the two leaders agreed to "engage closely" on the matter. Prof Capie said the issue hadn't faded away completely but was being more delicately handled compared to the Morrison government era. "You had a lot of deportations and a government that was basically basking in it," he said. "But more importantly, the structural changes to the rights of New Zealanders to be able to find a pathway to citizenship mean that there are going to be fewer and fewer over time." Mr Albanese is expected to be welcomed in a pōwhiri, a formal Māori welcoming ceremony, before he meets with Mr Luxon on Saturday. He will also meet with Australian and New Zealand business leaders and take part in a business roundtable. Defence, economic partnerships and security will be on the agenda for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese when he meets his New Zealand counterpart. Mr Albanese will spend the weekend in Queenstown for the annual Australia-New Zealand leaders meeting with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. It will be the second time across the Tasman for Mr Albanese, who last visited in 2023 to meet with then-Labour prime minister Chris Hipkins. Mr Albanese and Mr Luxon represent opposite ends of the political spectrum, but both have affirmed their nations share a "deep and enduring bond" as friends, neighbours and allies. "I look forward to discussing how we can work together to build on our single economic market, modernise the rules-based trading system, deepen our alliance, and back our Pacific partners," Mr Albanese said. The single economic market was established in 2009 to grow trade and deepen investment links between the two countries, making it easier for trans-Tasman business. Two-way trade between the two countries is worth $32 billion. Co-operation between the two governments is broad, with more than half of the New Zealand cabinet visiting Australia since Mr Luxon's government took office in late 2023. The "complicated" relationship between opportunities and challenges posed by China was likely to be a focus of talks behind the scenes, Victoria University of Wellington's New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre director Jason Young said. "Both prime ministers have recently visited China," the professor told AAP. "They had, at least, public-facing, very good visits to stabilise and manage the economic relationship. But at the same time, there's a bunch of particularly regional security issues which have an impact on both countries." The pair could also discuss the impact of the US President Donald Trump's tariffs. While Mr Trump raised tariffs against dozens of nations, he showed mercy on Australia and kept levies against most products at 10 per cent. But New Zealand was not spared and was hit with a 15 per cent "reciprocal" tariff. At the most recent leaders' meeting in Canberra in 2024, Mr Albanese and Mr Luxon discussed migration and creating a closer defence partnership. David Capie, another professor from Victoria University of Wellington, said the Luxon government had leaned into its partnership with Australia since coming to power. "You've got a New Zealand government that wants to do more with Australia," the NZ foreign and defence policy expert told AAP. "The upending of the economic order with the Trump tariffs, the Middle East - all of those things NZ and Australia are finding that they're very closely aligned." 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We must accelerate the growth of our renewable energy-based resources, for that is where our comparative advantage lies. We must electrify our transport and strategically couple the grids and vehicles, delivering massive battery energy storage and further consolidating resilience. We must use the abundant electricity we create to transition manufacturing and industrial processes to an emission-free future, further enhancing Australia's resilience and economic strength. Accelerating action now means stronger economic growth, and more employment opportunities for communities on the frontlines of change. READ MORE: We cannot avoid all that projected climate changes will bring, but we can and must build resilience in our communities, infrastructure and economy by identifying weaknesses and investing in strengthening or eliminating where possible those weaknesses. This is a strategic imperative. We cannot afford to aim low. A weaker target risks locking Australia out of new markets, putting regional jobs at risk, and burdening our children with even greater climate and economic disruption. A strong 2035 climate target is entirely achievable, economically sound, and in line with the direction our trading partners are heading. This isn't just about reducing pollution. It's about creating good, lasting jobs and securing a fairer, safer future for all Australians. The decisions we make in the next few months will define the opportunities for the coming decades. Let's make them count. The Australian government is about to make one of the most consequential economic decisions of the decade: setting our national climate target for 2035. This is about shaping the kind of economy we want in the years ahead. Do we want to remain shackled to geopolitically volatile fossil fuel markets? Or do we want to build a cleaner, more resilient economy that delivers secure, skilled jobs in every corner of the country? As someone who's spent decades working across energy systems in Australia and abroad - from oil and gas to wind and solar - I've seen how strong, clear targets drive investment and job creation. And I've seen the costs when governments do too little. The economic damage from climate pollution is already here. According to the Insurance Council annual average cost of extreme weather has more than doubled in the last 30 years. Marine heatwaves are battering fisheries, aquaculture and tourism. Back-to-back floods have devastated regional communities. Drought is hitting farmers hard. The risks are rising, and they are being felt on the ground - in jobs lost, bills rising, and industries under pressure. But there's another side to this story: if we act decisively, we can turn this challenge into one of Australia's biggest economic opportunities. We're already seeing signs of what's possible. There are more than 30,000 Australians employed in clean energy generation, storage and transmission. Rooftop solar is cutting bills and creating work for electricians and engineers. Renewable energy zones and battery hubs are supporting new projects and new careers, particularly in regional areas. This is just the beginning. With the strongest possible 2035 climate target - one that aligns with a cut of at least 75 per cent to climate pollution - we can unlock hundreds of thousands of jobs in clean industries. These are jobs in construction, advanced manufacturing, critical minerals, green hydrogen and clean exports. Jobs that will underpin our economic future and help Australia remain competitive in a decarbonising global economy. We have the ingredients: world-class solar and wind, critical minerals, skilled workers, and trusted trade relationships. What we need now is policy certainty. A strong 2035 target will send a clear signal to investors, industries and international partners that Australia is serious about being a clean energy leader. The Productivity Commission's recent report on climate change makes it clear: tackling climate change isn't just about safety - it's critical to Australia's productivity and long-term prosperity. Climate damage is already undermining key industries, from farming to tourism to insurance. But cutting climate pollution, and doing it faster, can keep us safer and provide a boost to our economy. We've made good progress over the last few years. But after a lost decade, we have catching up to do. We must accelerate the growth of our renewable energy-based resources, for that is where our comparative advantage lies. We must electrify our transport and strategically couple the grids and vehicles, delivering massive battery energy storage and further consolidating resilience. We must use the abundant electricity we create to transition manufacturing and industrial processes to an emission-free future, further enhancing Australia's resilience and economic strength. Accelerating action now means stronger economic growth, and more employment opportunities for communities on the frontlines of change. READ MORE: We cannot avoid all that projected climate changes will bring, but we can and must build resilience in our communities, infrastructure and economy by identifying weaknesses and investing in strengthening or eliminating where possible those weaknesses. This is a strategic imperative. We cannot afford to aim low. A weaker target risks locking Australia out of new markets, putting regional jobs at risk, and burdening our children with even greater climate and economic disruption. A strong 2035 climate target is entirely achievable, economically sound, and in line with the direction our trading partners are heading. This isn't just about reducing pollution. It's about creating good, lasting jobs and securing a fairer, safer future for all Australians. The decisions we make in the next few months will define the opportunities for the coming decades. Let's make them count. The Australian government is about to make one of the most consequential economic decisions of the decade: setting our national climate target for 2035. This is about shaping the kind of economy we want in the years ahead. Do we want to remain shackled to geopolitically volatile fossil fuel markets? Or do we want to build a cleaner, more resilient economy that delivers secure, skilled jobs in every corner of the country? As someone who's spent decades working across energy systems in Australia and abroad - from oil and gas to wind and solar - I've seen how strong, clear targets drive investment and job creation. And I've seen the costs when governments do too little. The economic damage from climate pollution is already here. According to the Insurance Council annual average cost of extreme weather has more than doubled in the last 30 years. Marine heatwaves are battering fisheries, aquaculture and tourism. Back-to-back floods have devastated regional communities. Drought is hitting farmers hard. The risks are rising, and they are being felt on the ground - in jobs lost, bills rising, and industries under pressure. But there's another side to this story: if we act decisively, we can turn this challenge into one of Australia's biggest economic opportunities. We're already seeing signs of what's possible. There are more than 30,000 Australians employed in clean energy generation, storage and transmission. Rooftop solar is cutting bills and creating work for electricians and engineers. Renewable energy zones and battery hubs are supporting new projects and new careers, particularly in regional areas. This is just the beginning. With the strongest possible 2035 climate target - one that aligns with a cut of at least 75 per cent to climate pollution - we can unlock hundreds of thousands of jobs in clean industries. These are jobs in construction, advanced manufacturing, critical minerals, green hydrogen and clean exports. Jobs that will underpin our economic future and help Australia remain competitive in a decarbonising global economy. We have the ingredients: world-class solar and wind, critical minerals, skilled workers, and trusted trade relationships. What we need now is policy certainty. A strong 2035 target will send a clear signal to investors, industries and international partners that Australia is serious about being a clean energy leader. The Productivity Commission's recent report on climate change makes it clear: tackling climate change isn't just about safety - it's critical to Australia's productivity and long-term prosperity. Climate damage is already undermining key industries, from farming to tourism to insurance. But cutting climate pollution, and doing it faster, can keep us safer and provide a boost to our economy. We've made good progress over the last few years. But after a lost decade, we have catching up to do. We must accelerate the growth of our renewable energy-based resources, for that is where our comparative advantage lies. We must electrify our transport and strategically couple the grids and vehicles, delivering massive battery energy storage and further consolidating resilience. We must use the abundant electricity we create to transition manufacturing and industrial processes to an emission-free future, further enhancing Australia's resilience and economic strength. Accelerating action now means stronger economic growth, and more employment opportunities for communities on the frontlines of change. READ MORE: We cannot avoid all that projected climate changes will bring, but we can and must build resilience in our communities, infrastructure and economy by identifying weaknesses and investing in strengthening or eliminating where possible those weaknesses. This is a strategic imperative. We cannot afford to aim low. A weaker target risks locking Australia out of new markets, putting regional jobs at risk, and burdening our children with even greater climate and economic disruption. A strong 2035 climate target is entirely achievable, economically sound, and in line with the direction our trading partners are heading. This isn't just about reducing pollution. It's about creating good, lasting jobs and securing a fairer, safer future for all Australians. The decisions we make in the next few months will define the opportunities for the coming decades. Let's make them count. The Australian government is about to make one of the most consequential economic decisions of the decade: setting our national climate target for 2035. This is about shaping the kind of economy we want in the years ahead. Do we want to remain shackled to geopolitically volatile fossil fuel markets? Or do we want to build a cleaner, more resilient economy that delivers secure, skilled jobs in every corner of the country? As someone who's spent decades working across energy systems in Australia and abroad - from oil and gas to wind and solar - I've seen how strong, clear targets drive investment and job creation. And I've seen the costs when governments do too little. The economic damage from climate pollution is already here. According to the Insurance Council annual average cost of extreme weather has more than doubled in the last 30 years. Marine heatwaves are battering fisheries, aquaculture and tourism. Back-to-back floods have devastated regional communities. Drought is hitting farmers hard. The risks are rising, and they are being felt on the ground - in jobs lost, bills rising, and industries under pressure. But there's another side to this story: if we act decisively, we can turn this challenge into one of Australia's biggest economic opportunities. We're already seeing signs of what's possible. There are more than 30,000 Australians employed in clean energy generation, storage and transmission. Rooftop solar is cutting bills and creating work for electricians and engineers. Renewable energy zones and battery hubs are supporting new projects and new careers, particularly in regional areas. This is just the beginning. With the strongest possible 2035 climate target - one that aligns with a cut of at least 75 per cent to climate pollution - we can unlock hundreds of thousands of jobs in clean industries. These are jobs in construction, advanced manufacturing, critical minerals, green hydrogen and clean exports. Jobs that will underpin our economic future and help Australia remain competitive in a decarbonising global economy. We have the ingredients: world-class solar and wind, critical minerals, skilled workers, and trusted trade relationships. What we need now is policy certainty. A strong 2035 target will send a clear signal to investors, industries and international partners that Australia is serious about being a clean energy leader. The Productivity Commission's recent report on climate change makes it clear: tackling climate change isn't just about safety - it's critical to Australia's productivity and long-term prosperity. Climate damage is already undermining key industries, from farming to tourism to insurance. But cutting climate pollution, and doing it faster, can keep us safer and provide a boost to our economy. We've made good progress over the last few years. But after a lost decade, we have catching up to do. We must accelerate the growth of our renewable energy-based resources, for that is where our comparative advantage lies. We must electrify our transport and strategically couple the grids and vehicles, delivering massive battery energy storage and further consolidating resilience. We must use the abundant electricity we create to transition manufacturing and industrial processes to an emission-free future, further enhancing Australia's resilience and economic strength. Accelerating action now means stronger economic growth, and more employment opportunities for communities on the frontlines of change. READ MORE: We cannot avoid all that projected climate changes will bring, but we can and must build resilience in our communities, infrastructure and economy by identifying weaknesses and investing in strengthening or eliminating where possible those weaknesses. This is a strategic imperative. We cannot afford to aim low. A weaker target risks locking Australia out of new markets, putting regional jobs at risk, and burdening our children with even greater climate and economic disruption. A strong 2035 climate target is entirely achievable, economically sound, and in line with the direction our trading partners are heading. This isn't just about reducing pollution. It's about creating good, lasting jobs and securing a fairer, safer future for all Australians. The decisions we make in the next few months will define the opportunities for the coming decades. Let's make them count.
