The renewable target requires 20% of energy to come from renewable sources by 2020 but has met with criticism from the Government’s adviser on climate change, Roger Wilkins, who has said Australia would be better off relying on an emissions trading scheme rather than the MRET.

The target was seen as a way to get the renewable technologies industry off the ground by keeping the technologies competitive while the price of carbon was low.

The CFMEU argued in its letter that the initial low price on carbon alone would not help the development of a renewable technologies industry.

As reported in the Australian newspaper today, the CFMEU wrote in its letter: “If we remove the renewable target it will result in the substitution of gas for wind power and other forms of renewable energy. While that will result in a lowering of our average emissions it does not help to prepare the economy and the energy supply industry for the medium to long term.”