CANBERRA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Australia's energy minister on Tuesday called on the opposition to back the ruling coalition's climate policies, rejecting the call for new emission reduction target.
Angus Taylor, who was appointed minister for energy and emissions reduction in the re-elected government on Sunday, told Fairfax Media on Tuesday that the incumbent Liberal-National Party Coalition (LNP) was handed a "clear mandate" to implement its own policies.
Speaking to reporters after he was elected as the leader of the opposition Australian Labor Party (ALP) unopposed on Monday, Anthony Albanese called on the two major parties to work together on a consensus position on reducing emissions.
The ALP had promised to reduce emissions by 45 percent from 2005 levels by 2030 if it won the election, while the LNP made no emissions reduction promises beyond Australia's existing international obligations.
"We're firmly committed to the policies we took to the election. We now have a clear mandate to implement those policies - and we'll be doing so," Taylor said.
"Labor should adopt our plan, which was supported by the Australian people, and I know industry wants to see bipartisanship. Now's the opportunity."
