Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane has told the clean energy industry that the government's latest offer on the renewable energy target is a "take it or leave it" position.
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In a fresh round of talks with unions and representatives for the clean energy and aluminium industries on Monday, Mr Macfarlane said the government would not budge from a figure of 32,000 gigawatt hours of renewable energy production by 2020.
The number represents a substantial reduction from the existing large scale target of 41,000 gigawatt hours and both Labor and the clean energy industry have said it is unacceptable.
The breakdown in talks on Monday would appear to reduce the government's chances of reaching a deal with the opposition by the end of this week and end the drawn-out saga that began last year with the Warburton review of the target.
Mr Macfarlane and Environment Minister Greg Hunt have said they will look to the crossbench for support if Labor will not agree on a figure.
On Monday, Labor's environment spokesman Mark Butler said the opposition was not prepared to move below a figure in the mid to high 30,000 range as this was the "minimum viable position" for the industry.
"I don't know what the current position of every crossbencher is but in the past it would seem – based on the comments they've made – that it would be very difficult for the government to cobble together the votes they need to put a 32,000 gigawatt hour target through the Parliament," Mr Butler said.
He said Labor would take a "very ambitious" renewable energy policy to the next federal election.
"We say that a target in the mid to high 30,000 range is important for the period between now and 2020," Mr Butler said.
"We obviously want also to be starting to talk to the industry and other stakeholders and the Australian community about what we do after 2020 as we continue to build our clean energy sources."
Clean Energy Council chief executive Kane Thornton said he remained optimistic a bipartisan deal could be reached this week, despite the continued stalemate.
"We're encouraged by the fact the government and Labor remain committed to resolving the issue," he said.
"Clearly there's some way to go but we remain optimistic."
Mr Macfarlane said on Monday that a large scale target of 32,000 combined with the output from the small scale solar scheme would still deliver an overall output of 45,000 gigawatt hours of renewable energy production by 2020.
"The government has been prepared to negotiate in good faith and has already moved significantly from its starting point in the negotiations," he said.
"However the Labor Party has offered nothing in return. It has yet to put a figure on the table.
"Our preference has always been to negotiate a bipartisan deal with Labor, but if Labor refuses to return to the table the government will begin negotiations with the crossbench because we are committed to ensuring a long-term and sustainable role for the RET and renewables in Australia's energy mix."
Australian Solar Council chief executive John Grimes said "we are now at the end point".
Mr Grimes said his organisation was shut out of Monday's talks.
"This is not a process and the end point is perpetual uncertainty," he said.
