"Governments and experts around the world who are serious about climate action understand that carbon pricing needs to be go hand in hand with industry and R&D policies that stimulate the development of the clean technology alternatives," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

"The climate scientists' warnings are only getting more urgent. That means we need both carbon pricing and industry policy working together towards 100% renewable energy and deep cuts in emissions as fast as possible.

"By developing these technologies earlier and bringing down their price faster than would otherwise be the case, we bring down the cost of achieving emission targets to the economy over time.

"Those who are attacking the Renewable Energy Target are just trying to deflect attention from the fact that it is the failure to invest in the energy grid over many years that is driving the bulk of energy price rises.

"The Renewable Energy Target has tripartisan support, although the Greens believe the time has come to move beyond the 2020 target and set an ambitious 2030 target. This is because renewable energy investors and electricity grid planners need a planning horizon longer than 8 years.

"Far from getting rid of the RET, we should be lifting it to a more ambitious target and supplementing it with other support mechanisms like feed in tariffs."