Australia has, up until the election of the Tony Abbott right-wing government, been one of the global leaders in solar power research. This shouldn't come as a surprise, considering that Australia is the second-driest continent in the world (behind Antarctica). Thus, there is ample opportunity for the country to engage in new areas of solar power research; unfortunately, under the Abbott government, renewable energy research and environmental conservation efforts have been hindered considerably.
Due to solar subsidy cuts, the jobs in Australia that are dependent on solar power research are due to fall by half this year from 2012, even though solar jobs in many other countries are growing considerably. In addition, the Abbott government has completely sacked the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), a move that would apparently save $3.1 billion from the Australian budget, even though ARENA has remained one of the top solar power research agencies in the world since its inception. ARENA remains open for the time being in order to complete its contracts and orders.
Much of the money 'saved' from the extensive cutting of not only solar power research, but also from other environmental conservation programs enacted by previous governments, will go into building roads, or so states Treasurer Joe Hockey.
The reaction against the Abbott government by environmentalists has been strong; in 2013, a slanderous article against Greenpeace was printed in Australia, citing that they were ready to 'disrupt/dismantle the coal industry.' The document(s) cited as reporting this fact were, actually, typical of any non-profit trying to bring awareness to an issue: a strong media presence, bringing lawsuits to higher courts, spreading awareness about the blight of coal on the environment, etc. However, the backlash against Greenpeace and the statements of favor for Australia's coal industry was strong: Australia is, after all, the largest exporter of coal in the world.
Coal, however, accounts for over 40% of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia, a figure that, over a very short timespan, is unsustainable for both Australia and the world at large.
It makes no sense, at this pivotal point in human history, to rely even more on fossil fuels. As any climate scientist in the world will repeat over and over, climate change is real and will happen regardless of whether or not you believe in it.
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