The Canning by-election is shaping up as a referendum on the Government’s performance on renewable energy and jobs, with both rated as more important in new ReachTel polling than Prime Minister Abbott’s preferred subject matter of war and terror.

“The ReachTel poll released today puts the writing on the wall for Prime Minister Abbott: jobs and clean energy rate higher for people living in Canning,” Senator Scott Ludlam said.

Australian Greens Deputy Leader Larissa Waters says Tony Abbott is proving himself an economic and environmental vandal with his escalating war on wind.

"Tony Abbott is systematically destroying every successful clean energy policy Australia has," said Senator Waters.

"He's made us the only country in the world to get rid of a price on pollution and the only country in the world to actually lower a renewable energy target.

Australian Greens Senator for South Australia Penny Wright says the Renewable Energy Target legislation that passed the Senate last night will hit South Australia hardest.

"South Australia is the biggest loser out of Labor and Liberal's dirty deal to cut the Renewable Energy Target.

"We have the highest percentage of homes with solar panels, the most energy sourced from renewables and the most investment now at risk.

"Not only do we lose the opportunity for more clean energy, but we lose the jobs and investment that spin off from renewable energy.

The Liberal and Labor parties have ganged up to gut the Renewable Energy Target and allow native forest burning under that target in the Senate tonight.

Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and climate change spokesperson, said the government had also done a deal with the anti-wind crossbenchers to attack the wind industry.

"Ganging up with Labor to slash the Renewable Energy Target and allow it to burn native forests just wasn't enough for Tony Abbott.

I move that the Senate:

1.       commiserates with the 440 workers who will lose their jobs at the Leigh Creek coal mine and Port Augusta coal-fired power stations, which are flagged for closure by 2018;

2.       recognises the outstanding leadership of the Repower Port Augusta Alliance and the Port Augusta City Council in working with the community to advocate for solar thermal to replace the outdated coal power stations;

The Australian Greens are calling on Labor to abandon its deal to cut the Renewable Energy Target, which was introduced to parliament today and allows for the burning of native forests.

"This is Bill Shorten's first big test on the environment, and it's time to walk away from this deal. Burning native trees is not renewable energy," said Greens Leader Richard Di Natale.

"This deal is bad for the climate, bad for jobs, and a disaster for the environment.

"Is Labor really going to help the government commit this environmental and economic vandalism?"

Greens Leader Richard Di Natale says the Abbott-Labor deal to reduce the Renewable Energy Target will mean fewer jobs, less clean energy and more pollution from coal.

"Tony Abbott has attacked renewable energy because he thinks coal is good for humanity. It isn't," Greens Leader Richard Di Natale said.

"This deal means more coal. More coal means less jobs in clean energy, more pollution, more cancer and more lung disease.

"For a young kid packing shelves in regional Australia it means less chance of a skilled and well paid job in the clean energy industry.

Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne says the government's Energy White Paper needs to be binned along with the Warburton review into the RET, as both have been written to protect the profits of the Coalition's mates in the fossil fuel sector.

"This Energy White Paper is nothing more than a pamphlet by the wholly-owned subsidiary of the coal industry that is the Abbott government," said Senator Milne.

Now that the community and the Parliament have forced the Abbott Government to back down on its backward and ideological policies attacking the sick, our universities, students and pensioners, it's time to intensify the campaign and force the Prime Minister to drop the attack on renewable energy, Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne said today.

"Minister Macfarlane asks who is creating the RET uncertainty now? There is only one answer. You are," said Senator Milne.