Caring for our country
A practical approach to energy security, environmental conservation and emissions reduction
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The Morrison Government's approach to caring for the environment underscored a commitment to balancing environmental stewardship with economic growth and energy security.
Securing Australia’s energy future
The Morrison Government implemented a series of strategic initiatives aimed at bolstering Australia’s energy security, while accelerating the transition to a low-emissions economy. These efforts centred on technological innovation, market reform, and infrastructure development.
The centrepiece was the Technology Investment Roadmap, a $20 billion strategy launched in 2020 to lower the cost of five priority technologies: clean hydrogen, energy storage, low-carbon materials, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and soil carbon measurement. It aimed to mobilise over $80 billion in public and private investment, guided by annual Low Emissions Technology Statements. Hydrogen production under $2/kg, storage under $100/MWh, and CCS below $20/tonne were key targets.
Complementing this, the National Hydrogen Strategy — developed with States and Territories in 2019 — committed over $1.2 billion to position Australia as a global hydrogen leader. Investments focused on regional hydrogen hubs, export supply chains, and international partnerships with Japan, Germany, and Singapore. Gladstone, Newcastle/Hunter Valley, Port Kembla/Illawarra, Bell Bay, Latrobe Valley, Whyalla and the Pilbara were all selected as sites for the Morrison Government’s Hydrogen Hubs.
In response to COVID-19, the Gas-Fired Recovery Plan 2020 sought to ensure affordable and reliable energy. It focused on unlocking supply in basins like Beetaloo, investing in critical pipeline infrastructure, and reforming gas markets to support domestic manufacturing.
A landmark infrastructure project, Snowy 2.0 — initiated by Prime Minister Turnbull — expanded the Snowy Hydro Scheme with 2,000 MW of dispatchable pumped hydro storage. With more than $5 billion in investment, it is expected to play a critical role in stabilising the grid and integrating renewables.
The Government also extended the mandates of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC). ARENA received $1.62 billion over ten years for hydrogen, carbon capture and storage initiatives. The CEFC’s $10 billion fund supported grid integration, low-carbon industries, and large-scale renewables.
Collectively, these policies aimed to drive innovation, attract investment, and ensure energy reliability. While lacking a carbon price, the framework provided the foundation for Australia’s evolving clean energy economy.
Climate change and emissions reductions
The Morrison Government advanced a suite of emissions reduction policies anchored by a market-based, technology-driven approach to decarbonisation. Central to this framework was the Emissions Reduction Fund (later rebadged as the Climate Solutions Fund), which allocated over $4.5 billion to support emissions abatement across sectors including land use, agriculture, industrial processing, and energy efficiency. The fund used a reverse auction mechanism to purchase abatement at the lowest cost — facilitating projects such as reforestation, soil carbon improvement, and methane capture from landfills and livestock.
In October 2021, ahead of the COP26 Summit in Glasgow, the Morrison Government formally adopted a target of net zero emissions by 2050. This commitment was framed around the “Australian Way” — a distinct national model based on enabling technological innovation, supporting voluntary private sector initiatives, and avoiding punitive regulatory mechanisms such as carbon pricing or mandatory emissions trading schemes. The Government emphasised that Australia could meet its goals without sacrificing regional industries or economic competitiveness, relying instead on advances in hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, low-emissions manufacturing, and clean energy storage — as prioritised under the Technology Investment Roadmap. Read more here.
Under the Morrison Government, Australia’s formal 2030 emissions reduction target remained consistent with that set by the Abbott and Turnbull Governments: a 26–28% cut from 2005 levels. Prime Minister Morrison maintained that the pathway to net zero by 2050 would not be linear. He argued that setting higher short-term targets risked diverting investment from scalable, long-term technology solutions that could reduce emissions affordably without compromising energy or economic security — particularly in developing economies.
He further contended that aggressive short-term targets would unnecessarily increase energy costs, entrench regulatory intervention, and hinder economic performance. Such measures, in his view, would also lead to premature closures of fossil fuel-based energy sources without viable alternatives, and discourage investment in lower-emission transitional fuels like natural gas.
By the end of 2021, Australia had already reduced emissions by 23%, largely through declines in electricity sector emissions, stricter land clearing regulations, and improved energy and industrial efficiency.
On the global stage, the Morrison Government advanced strategic decarbonisation partnerships with countries including Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These focused on low-emissions technologies, hydrogen trade, and carbon offset standards, and included participation in initiatives such as the Quad’s Clean Energy Supply Chains and the Indo-Pacific Carbon Offset Scheme.
Environmental conservation and protection
Under the Morrison Government, Australia launched several major initiatives to protect the environment, improve natural resource management, and modernise environmental regulation. These efforts covered land conservation, marine protection, waste management, and legislative reform.
The second phase of the National Landcare Program (2018–2023) was supported by more than $1 billion and aimed to promote sustainable farming, restore degraded landscapes, and conserve biodiversity. It delivered results through regional partnerships, Landcare groups, Indigenous ranger programs, and community-led conservation projects. The program also backed climate-smart agriculture through the Smart Farms initiative, which awarded over $50 million in grants to improve soil health, prevent erosion, and engage landholders in environmental stewardship.
Significant funding was also directed toward protecting the Great Barrier Reef. The Reef 2050 Plan — a joint initiative between the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments — received more than $3 billion in total, including a $1 billion boost in 2022. The plan targeted improved water quality, increased reef resilience, and support for large-scale research and restoration. Key projects included crown-of-thorns starfish control, coral restoration using advanced technologies, and expanded satellite and marine monitoring. The Australian Institute of Marine Science and CSIRO contributed alongside the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, which managed the $443 million Reef Trust Partnership.
In parallel, the Government initiated a comprehensive review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, led by Professor Graeme Samuel. The final report, released in 2020, concluded the Act was outdated and called for new national environmental standards, stronger compliance mechanisms, and the creation of an independent Environmental Assurance Commissioner. While some legislative measures were introduced, broader reform remained politically contested and incomplete by the end of the Government’s term.
Together, these initiatives represented a multi-faceted approach to strengthening Australia’s environmental resilience and sustainability framework.
Waste management and recycling
The Morrison Government introduced Australia’s first plastic waste export ban through the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020. This legislation adopted a phased approach to banning the export of unprocessed waste materials, including plastic, paper, glass, and tyres. The ban on exporting mixed plastic waste began on 1 July 2021, targeting the end of approximately 75,000 tonnes of annual baled mixed plastic exports. The goal was to reduce environmental harm from contaminated shipments and drive investment in domestic recycling infrastructure. From 1 July 2022, all waste plastic exports were prohibited unless sorted into a single resin or polymer type and further processed, as enforced under the Recycling and Waste Reduction (Export—Waste Plastics) Rules 2021.
These measures formed part of a broader strategy to overhaul Australia’s waste management system, reduce dependence on overseas processing, and promote a circular economy. The government backed this transition with investments in domestic recycling, including the $250 million Recycling Modernisation Fund to expand Australia’s onshore recycling capacity.
Matched by State and private sector contributions, the fund mobilised over $1 billion in total investment to build new recycling infrastructure and support a circular economy. By 2022, more than 170 projects had been approved nationwide — enhancing Australia’s ability to process plastics, paper, tyres, and glass domestically.
Related media:
1. Press release, Historic Snowy 2.0 plan approved, 26 February 2019: https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-42156
2. Press release, A greener recycling industry, 13 August 2019: https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-42357
3. Press release, Investment in new energy technologies, 17 September 2020: https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43021
4. Press release, Australia’s plan to reach our net zero target by 2050, 26 October 2021: https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43618
5. Press release, Plastic recycling solutions right for Australia, 21 March 2022: https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-43869
