Labor frontbencher Chris Bowen has rejected the idea his party's 2030 climate target could be pushed higher once elected, as he accused Prime Minister Scott Morrison of engaging in “toxic” debate around climate policy.
Mr Morrison has attacked the proposed target as merely an “opening bid” that would be pushed higher if the opposition were forced into a coalition government with the Greens.
Addressing the National Press Club on Monday, Mr Bowen, Labor’s climate change and energy spokesperson, was asked if his party's 43 per cent target was negotiable. He replied bluntly “no”.
The Morrison government remains committed to its goal of cutting emissions by 26 to 28 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030, a target adopted by former prime minister Tony Abbott in 2015.
Labor’s climate change policy underpinning its 43 per cent target was released last week, with the proposal gaining the support of the Business Council of Australia and Australian Industry Group.
But Mr Morrison has said his opposition to Labor’s policy has not reduced, despite this recognition.
“No I don’t agree with them,” he told reporters on Monday.
“I think that is just the opening bid from Labor. For Labor to legislate if they were to form government, they would have to do that with the support of the Greens. You know what the Greens target is, it is 75 per cent." 
During his speech, Mr Bowen also complained about what he described as a “toxic but effective fear campaign about the economic costs of climate action” in Australia.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has suggested Labor's emissions target is an "opening bid." Source: AAP
“In a crowded field, the tactics of Scott Morrison at the last election win the prize for being the low point of sophistry and toxicity,” he said.
“Australians were told that tackling climate change would come at a cost to the economy of billions of dollars instead of being treated to a genuine contest of ideas about how to lead the transition to renewable energy."
He accused Mr Morrison and his government of “pandering to identity politics of division” in a way that makes his “blood boil” through its rhetoric on climate policy.
He said it was only after Mr Morrison had now “sniffed the winds of political change” that the Coalition had recognised the shifting public sentiment around climate change.
“They've spent years dividing Australians and pitting cities against the regions on the issue of climate change,” he said.
“It's meant to be the job of the national government, and particularly the job of the prime minister of the day, to unite Australians around important national goals and projects.”
Mr Bowen said after "sneers" at the "climate concerns of people who frequent " the prime minister had now embarked on this "road to Damascus conversion".
"Declaring that having divided Australians for so long, they are just the right people to unite Australians around this important national task," he said.
Mr Morrison earlier said under the Coalition’s policy emissions had been cut by 20 per cent and his government were committed to “meeting and beating” its targets.
The Morrison government has also predicted Australia is on track to achieve emissions cuts of 30-35 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030.
