Angus Taylor has been re-appointed as the new energy minister.
He will lead Australia’s energy policy while trying to meet the country’s emissions reduction targets at the same time.
In a tweet, Mr Taylor said he's looking forward to getting on with the job of lowering power prices for Australian families and businesses and to ensure Australia's is on track to meet the 2030 emission target.
In the last cabinet, emission reductions were the responsibility of the environment minister.
The CEO of the Nature Conservation Foundation said no matter what portfolio the emission reductions are under, the key is to reduce them.
“Climate damage is one of the biggest risks that Australians face right now, so we need Angus Taylor to understand that and take action to move the country towards renewable energy,” the foundation’s CEO Kelly O'Shanassy told SBS News.
Ms O’Shanassy said the new government needs to better address the issue.
“Having the same minister in charge as before the elections makes me very concerned that the Morrison government has no plan for changing the way it deals with energy in the way it deals with climate change.
“And that’s quite terrifying giving the way we produce our electricity in this country is fueling global warming and climate damage. “
About 60 per cent of Australia’s energy is derived from coal, and coal mining, including questions over the go-ahead of the Adani mine in Queensland, .
Protestors holding signage during a Stop Adani rally outside Parliament House in Canberra, Sunday May 5. Source: AAP
The Coalition said earlier that it is committed to finding solutions to climate change.
Under the $3.5 billion climate solutions package, set to be rolled out over 10 to 15 years, the government plans to deliver on the country’s 2030 Paris climate commitments.
The package includes money for Snowy Hydro 2.0, energy efficiency programs and grants for community organisations to buy solar panels.
The aim is to reduce emissions by 26 to 28 per cent below 2005 levels.
But critics said these policies will fall short of what’s required to meet the Paris climate agreement targets.
The CEO of Energy Networks Australia, the national industry body representing Australia’s electricity networks and gas distribution businesses, welcomed Mr Taylor’s re-appointment.
“Our key priorities are the grid integration challenges of connecting renewables, both large and small scale, the National Hydrogen Strategy and maintaining the sector’s finance ability,” Mr Dillon said.
“Energy and climate policies are closely linked and combing the two is a positive step towards the policy certainty and stability the industry needs.”
