It Appears Malcolm Turnbull Contradicted Himself On Renewable Energy

The speech, which is up on YouTube, contradicts some of his comments last week.

A blurry video with dodgy audio of Malcolm Turnbull passionately arguing for "almost" 100% renewable energy by 2050 appears to somewhat contradict his comments as prime minister last week.

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In the wake of South Australia's statewide blackout, Turnbull ignored experts who were insisting it had nothing to with renewable energy, saying it was a "real wake-up call" for clean energy.

Scott Gelston / AAPIMAGE

Turnbull took aim at Labor governments in Victoria, South Australia and Queensland for setting ambitious renewable energy targets. For example, Queensland has a 50% target by 2030, with 4.5% currently clean energy.

“What’s the pathway to achieve that?" asked Turnbull.

"Very hard to see it. It’s a political or ideological statement".

The PM's comments were praised by the most ardent climate skeptics in the parliament, including One Nation's Malcolm Roberts who pledged to borrow the PM's language.

Sen. Malcolm Roberts @SenatorMRoberts

"Climate ideology" good phrase @TurnbullMalcolm I think I will borrow that one. Good to see you coming around to On… https://t.co/hhOVYqdXq3

02:29 AM - 29 Sep 2016

Turnbull’s current skeptic-position contradicts a speech he made in 2010 at Sydney Town Hall, where he launched a climate report that laid out a pathway for Australia to become powered by 100% renewables.

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Video of Turnbull's passionate speech is on YouTube and shows the Liberal MP calling for "dramatic" action on renewable energy.

"We must move, if we are effectively to combat climate change, to a situation where all, or almost all of our energy comes from zero or very near zero emission sources," said Turnbull to applause from the large crowd.

Turnbull argued "almost all" of Australia's energy needs to be renewable by 2050 if the nation is to take appropriate action to halt the advance of climate change.

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"Now you can look at the targets, 50% the common sort of rubric rule of thumb is to cut emissions by 2050... or even lower than they were in 1990 or 2000," he said.

"I promise you, you cannot achieve that cut, you cannot achieve it without getting to a point by mid-century where all or almost all of our stationary energy, that is to say energy from power stations and big factories and so forth comes from zero emission sources."

He argued that it is highly likely the technology to get Australia to zero emissions hasn't even been invented yet, which is why the first thing Australia needs is a "price on carbon".

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"In the long term, and really sooner rather than later, we must have a price on carbon," said Turnbull.

"We need to send that price signal to the market that encourages the step changes in technology that will transform our economy."

Of course, Australia did eventually get a price on carbon, which was scrapped in July 2014, with the vote of Malcolm Turnbull.