HAMISH MACDONALD: Angus Taylor is the federal Energy Minister. He joins us now. Minister, your Government keeps bragging that Australia is way ahead on our emissions targets, that we're going to meet the Paris targets in a canter, you say. Why then do we need to spend an extra $2 billion to help us get there?

ANGUS TAYLOR: This is all part of getting to the 26 per cent reduction on 2005 emissions, which is our Paris commitment, and we're well ahead on reaching our 2020 Kyoto targets. This is the last piece of the puzzle to ensure we reach our 2030 targets. Today's announcement is the final initiatives necessary to reach that 328 million tonnes.

HAMISH MACDONALD: It's just a bit perplexing though, Minister - if we are already ahead, we're well beyond where we need to be, why then do we need to spend $2 billion more to get there?

ANGUS TAYLOR: Well, this is the final piece of the puzzle, as I say. What we announced today was a series of initiatives ranging from-

HAMISH MACDONALD: But what does that mean: this is the final piece of the puzzle? Because our emissions are going up, aren't they?

ANGUS TAYLOR: Well, no, they're at their lowest level per capita in 28 years. In fact, we'll see as a result of these Paris commitments, a 50 per cent reduction in emissions per capita, and we'll see a 66 per cent, or two-thirds reduction in emissions intensity in the economy. As I say though, this is the last piece - and this is a range of initiatives from making better use of our Tasmanian hydro assets as well as reducing emissions through Savanna burning and other agricultural and land management projects.

HAMISH MACDONALD: Can I just clarify - I just asked you if our emissions were going up and you said no. Is that right?

ANGUS TAYLOR: We have the lowest emissions in 28 years per capita and that's been quite an achievement.

HAMISH MACDONALD: Sorry, I just need to check - are you accepting that our emissions are going up, or are you saying that they're going down?

ANGUS TAYLOR: No. I said we have the lowest emissions per capita in 28 years.

HAMISH MACDONALD: So you accept that they're going up?

ANGUS TAYLOR: No, I said that we have our lowest emissions in 28 years per capita. What we've been able to do over recent years, through good work from the emissions reduction fund: record investments in renewables. We've got $25 billion of investment happening right now in solar and wind. This year, we'll see the largest investment in renewables projects in this nation's history by a long margin.

STEVE PRICE: You were dubbed the minister for power prices, you've got an election in May, and the electorate's not listening. You've got Newspoll today again showing you are behind. You haven't convinced people that you can actually bring these prices down. Can you guarantee us tonight that between now and the election, you won't rip up the Paris agreement?

ANGUS TAYLOR: Look, we set, when Tony Abbott was prime minister, a 26 per cent reduction target, and we're going to keep it. Now, we can do that and at the same time put downward pressure on prices. That's exactly what we're doing. We're seeing unprecedented supply coming into the market. The job now is to make sure that supply translates to lower prices, as it should. That means keeping pressure on the big energy companies, because they haven't done the right thing in the past. We want to see them do the right thing now. As I say, we've taken strong steps here by capping prices, which has not been done in recent times by any government.

HAMISH MACDONALD: Minister, we appreciate your time tonight. Thank you.

ANGUS TAYLOR: Thanks for having me.