While the Rudd Government is unlikely to start playing down the threat of global warming, it will want to dampen expectations about how quickly and deeply Australia should try to cut its carbon emissions, at least until the rest of the world is on board.

The $50 million Geothermal Drilling Program, to be officially announced by Martin Ferguson at an industry conference today, will be used to give grants to cover the cost of drilling geothermal wells. Mr Ferguson said if drilling proves successful geothermal energy could provide a “significant” contribution to the Government’s target of 20 per cent renewable energy use by 2020.

Only six months after the Coalition apparently dropped its support for nuclear power following its election defeat, Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson said there was a need for nuclear power but it would require bipartisan political support. “We remain open to having discussions with the Government if it chooses to change its position on nuclear power,” Dr Nelson said.