Would you support a healthcare policy that made you sicker or a transport policy that meant you would spend more time sitting in traffic? No? Then why should Australians support a climate policy that does nothing to address climate change or an energy policy that does little to help fix our broken energy system?

Yet with its National Electricity Guarantee and more specifically the 26 per cent emissions reduction target, that is exactly what the Coalition government is asking us and state energy ministers to do.

Coddrington wind farm in south-western Victoria. Credit:Jessica Shapiro

Modelling released by respected energy analysts Reputex shows that a NEG with the government’s emission targets will not lead to any new renewable energy infrastructure and thus no reduction in carbon pollution. It also finds that a higher emissions target will lead to lower electricity bills for us all.

How does that work? As the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has reported, more competition in the wholesale electricity market would help lower power bills. Put simply, more renewables coming online means more competition.