Australian Climate Change Regulation and Political Math

Abstract

This paper traces the tumultuous decade of Australian climate politics from 2007 to 2016 when climate change policy emerged as a defining issue in Australian politics. It focuses on the interplay, that we believe is unique, or at least uniquely powerful, between Australian climate policy and the perceived legitimacy of its political leaders. This interplay has seen the Prime Ministership change five times in ten years with climate change being a key determinant in the rise, fall, or rise and fall of each of their careers. The paper also engages strongly with the raw political math of a period where Australia’s houses of parliament were nearly as often opposed on climate policy as they were in sync.

Keywords: Climate Politics, Climate Change, Australia, Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, Emissions Trading, Clean Energy Futures