Coalition vows to 'take a chainsaw' to climate laws, offshore wind

The Coalition would cancel offshore wind zones, scrap climate laws for heavy industry and car makers, and attempt to lift the ban on nuclear if it wins power.

Its energy plan formalises a commitment to slow down renewables and jettison several core emissions reductions policies.

The Coalition has urged states to reconsider the ban on nuclear, which it says could be used to power massive expansion of AI data centres across the country.

The Coalition has vowed to abolish most of Australia's "offshore wind zones" if it wins government, massively limiting where wind farms can be built, as part of a commitment for a major slowdown of the nation's energy transition.

Shadow Energy Minister Dan Tehan said revoking the offshore wind zones along the Hunter, Illawarra, Southern Ocean and Bunbury coasts would be part of an eight-point plan to unpick Australia's key climate policies.

"We will take a chainsaw to Labor's ideologically driven, energy-restrictive approach to energy," Mr Tehan will say in an address to The Australian's energy summit.

As well as winding back the offshore wind rollout, the Coalition would also repeal laws committing Australia to reach net zero emissions by 2050, remove laws requiring the nation's biggest polluters to cut their emissions or face penalties and remove laws requiring car makers to provide more efficient vehicles to Australia, including electric vehicles.

The Coalition would also attempt to lift the prohibition on nuclear power — though that would require laws to be passed by the Senate, where there is no chance for the Coalition to win support without either Labor or the Greens changing positions on nuclear energy.

The power plan formalises the Coalition's abandonment of most of the major policies attempting to drive down carbon emissions and speed up the transition of Australia's electricity networks from coal towards renewable power.

"Within 30 days of getting into government we will introduce the scrap net zero bill … which will get rid of Labor's egregious taxes across energy in our country, taxes on vehicles, it will get rid of the vehicle emissions standards … it will get rid of the safeguard mechanism, which is sending industry offshore," Mr Taylor said.

While the Coalition is vowing to unpick most of the measures being used to cut emissions, the party says it remains committed to addressing climate change, but says the cost of energy to home owners and industry should be put first.

The CSIRO says solar and wind power remain cheaper power sources than coal, even after accounting for transmission costs.

However, the pace of transition has been slower than intended, and has required major investment support through the government's Capacity Investment Scheme.

The Coalition says that scheme should not be picking winners, and should also be allowed to underwrite coal, gas and nuclear power.