Energy Minister Angus Taylor claims that when the Coalition came to power, it inherited a 755 million tonne emissions "deficit" against Australia's second Kyoto target because Labor "hadn't done the hard work". He claimed the Coalition had "turned that around by 1.1 billion tonnes". But Mr Taylor's claim is misleading. The figures he cites are consistent with forecasts contained in a September 2013 report (which contained 2012 emissions data) and another report released in December 2018. However, his characterisation is problematic. First, the 2012 emissions data used by Mr Taylor was superseded by a new report three months after the Coalition came to power. It found that actual emissions under Labor in 2013 were significantly lower than had been anticipated a year earlier. Its forecasts also factored in estimates of abatement to be achieved by Labor's carbon tax. For this reason, Fact Check considers the 2013 report provides a more accurate, and less pessimistic, snapshot of the situation that the Coalition "inherited" from Labor. In addition, the 2013 report accounted for a significant "carry-over" of emissions credits from Australia's over-achievement of the first Kyoto period, which ended in June 2012. This inclusion of the carry-over reflects an accounting assumption, rather than any "hard work" on the part of the Coalition in reducing emissions. Also, Mr Taylor is not entitled to claim credit for emissions reductions achieved through state-based renewable energy incentives or through the closure of coal-fired power plants, given Coalition criticisms. Changes to land use and the impact of floods and drought on agricultural emissions also had an impact. The Coalition's "Direct Action" emissions reduction fund also played a modest positive role, according to experts.
Verdict: Misleading