Aust slammed over energy 'policy vacuum'

Australia's continued reliance on coal will kill the Great Barrier Reef, a climate expert says. (AAP)

A climate expert has slammed Australia's renewable energy 'policy vacuum', which he says could cost jobs..

A "policy vacuum" on renewable energy is causing Australia to fall far behind global counterparts and could strip thousands of jobs from the economy, a climate expert believes.

The Climate Council's head of research Martin Rice insists it is "mind-boggling" that Australia is still focusing on a carbon-based economy when renewables are cheaper.

"We could power the country 500 times over with the solar and wind capacity in Australia (and) it's already the cheapest new form of energy," he told AAP.

"We have everything we need at our disposal; there's just a lack of political will to move forward.

"There's a policy vacuum in Australia."

Dr Rice believes global warming from Australia's continued reliance on coal will kill the Great Barrier Reef, along with associated jobs in tourism and related industries.

He says the United Kingdom has already proven offshore wind is a viable economical alternative, and it also solved concerns about the aesthetics of onshore wind farms.

Offshore wind costs in the UK have dropped significantly in the last year, and the creation of new wind farms typically take about one third of the time needed to build a nuclear plant or coal-fired power station, he says.

The industry is already starting to benefit regional towns in the UK like Grimsby, which is slowly seeing a revival of its once-bustling fishing port as the offshore wind sector moves in.

Stephen Wyatt from Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, which fosters innovation in the wind industry, said it had bipartisan support from the UK government because it will help meet the 2050 net zero emissions target.

"If costs are coming down so significantly for offshore wind and we're seeing the economic benefits associated with the industry, particularly in poorer coastal communities, why wouldn't you do more of this?" Dr Wyatt asked.

Dr Rice said wind farms made economic sense in Australia regardless of someone's attitude towards climate change.

"The sad thing is Australia has been left in the wake of the UK when you look at what's been happening with offshore wind.

"That's really inexcusable because the UK is in pole position for the new economy - you've got jobs, you've got investment, you've got clean energy."

There are currently no offshore wind farms in operation in Australia, although the federal government has granted an exploration licence for a proposal off the coast of South Gippsland in Victoria.

Reporter travelled to the UK courtesy of The Climate Council

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