Former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull says is falling behind the rest of the world when it comes to fossil fuels and clean energy investment.

“There is a really prosperous, cheaper energy future for Australia… post coal”

He says oversea’s leaders question to Australia is “why are you hanging on to fossil fuels”

The prominent Australian political figure, serving as the 29th Australian Prime Minister from 2015 to 2018, says he expects to see more investment in clean and renewable energy in the upcoming Federal Budget.

The Australian government will deliver the Federal Budget at 7:30pm AEST on Tuesday, May 11.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will reveal how the Morrison government is going to spend taxpayer’s money over the next four years, and Turnbull believes investment in coal is a “mistake”

What does Turnbull want to see in the budget?

From a climate perspective, Turnbull is hoping to see a substantial investment in climate initiatives towards climate action, renewables, zero-emissions industries.

“I hope gas led recovery doesn’t make much of an appearance, that is a complete dud”

malcolm turnbull on ticker news.

He believes the answer to boosting Australia’s action toward climate change is putting resources behind technologies of the future. However, this will require some significant projects.

“I worry the government will put small amount of money behind essentially pilot projects”

Turnbull says scale is key, like Australia’s Snowy Hydro and the GenX project, that Turnbull has a huge presence in forwarding.

He is calling for the Morrison government to just “get on with it”

Where is Australia compared to other global economies?

President Biden hosted the virtual climate summit, where we saw America and China commit to pretty impressive targets against climate change, Australia though seems to be falling behind.

Turnbull told ticker that he has spoken to people in the Biden Administration about carbon tariffs.

“Views are generally divided” he says.

“Politicians love nothing more than a bit of protectionism.”

He draws on the “usual nice argument” that politicians like to claim they’re “protecting local jobs and businesses, but also saving the planet.

Are the nationals ‘cozying up’ to coal companies?

Turnbull says the nationals are advocates for the big mining companies.

TurnbullMalcolm says new jobs at Australian mines will only come at the cost of exisiting jobs in current mines #huntervalley

How can Australia secure its economic future?

Turnbull says Australia is the most successful, multi-cultural society in the world and “that is an incredible achievement”… but says “we have to make sure we’re not getting left behind.

“We have to make sure we’re not getting left behind as some Trumpian, fossil fuel hugging, back water in the south pacific”

Mr Turnbull has written a letter objecting to the expansion of a coal mine in the Mount Pleasant area, in the Hunter Valley, and says investment in coal is a mistake to current jobs in fossil fuel industries too.

“I’m sure I made plenty of mistakes”

Turnbull was the Prime Minister of Australia from 2015 to 2018. He recalls his power in the top position and what he wish he could have done, if he had more time.

Turnbull says he had to recognise politics is a tough business. He recently worked with publisher, Hardie Grant books to publish “A bigger picture” and highlights “Our nation, our Australian Project, is a remarkable one. But we cannot take its endurance or its success for granted.”

He is speaking at the Smart Energy 2021 conference in Sydney on Wednesday, 12th May. His speech is “the courage to act: planning for a future beyond coal”

Turnbull joined renewable energy expert and ambassador climate change, Scott Hamilton, alongside ticker anchor Holly Stearnes on Monday, live on Monday evening AEST to discuss climate action.

Every week, Scott Hamilton joins Holly Stearnes on tickerCLIMATE to discuss climate change and what action our world leaders are taking to tackle it.