The former Reserve Bank governor clashed with ministers over claims about policy and also endured government attempts to abolish his organisation

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Bernie Fraser has quit as chairman of the independent Climate Change Authority, a body the government has previously sought to abolish.

The authority issued a brief statement late on Tuesday saying it “regrets to announce” the resignation of Fraser, who is a former Reserve Bank governor.

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“The authority members thank Mr Fraser for his enormously valuable contribution to the authority’s work in providing independent expert advice to the Australian government and parliament on climate change policy,” the statement said.

“Arrangements have been made to ensure the authority’s work will continue uninterrupted.”



The government has previously attempted but failed to abolish the authority, which is a statutory body that provides independent advice on climate policy including emission reduction targets.

In an explanatory memorandum attached to the Coalition’s 2013 bill to abolish the body, the government argued “it is not needed” and the step would “make a significant contribution to delivering a smaller climate change bureaucracy”.

But in 2014 the Palmer United party leader, Clive Palmer, made his support for the Coalition’s direct action legislation conditional on retaining the authority and requiring it to prepare a report on emissions trading policy. The authority is still working on that project.

Fraser was recently involved in a public dispute with the environment minister, Greg Hunt, over the government’s assertion that “Labor’s climate policy” would impose a “$600bn carbon bill”.

In August, Fraser told Guardian Australia the claim was “weird” and “misleading” and he also raised concern about the adequacy of the Coalition’s goal of reducing emissions by between 26% and 28% of 2005 levels by 2030.

On Tuesday Hunt thanked Fraser for his work with the authority.

“He has had an outstanding career in public service, which I deeply respect and acknowledge,” Hunt said in a statement.

“In particular, I thank Mr Fraser for his assistance with the crossbench in the passage of the emissions reduction fund.”

Labor’s environment spokesman, Mark Butler, noted Fraser had been appointed by Julia Gillard and his five-year term was not due to expire until July 2017.

“His resignation is a sad reflection on the state of climate action in Australia and of the appalling approach of the Abbott government,” Butler said.

“Mr Fraser has shown extreme strength of character in remaining in post throughout a period of unconscionable government distain for climate change.”

The departure of Fraser means only four board members remain: Professor Ian Chubb, Professor David Karoly, Professor Clive Hamilton and Professor John Quiggin. The authority also has an acting chief executive, Shayleen Thompson.