Tasmania's Liberal government plans to legislate a "nation-leading" target of net zero carbon emissions from 2030.
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But opposition parties say the move is not ambitious enough, pointing to the fact the island state has achieved the feat six of the past seven years.
"This target will be nation-leading and one of the most ambitious in the world," Premier Peter Gutwein said on Wednesday, the same day federal cabinet debated details of a plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
The Tasmanian government says the state's emissions have fallen 108.6 per cent since 1990, while the economy has nearly doubled.
The island has reached net zero in recent years on the back of adopting hydro-electric power and changes in land use as forestry declines.
"The government's announcement ... is like saying you will set a target to complete your homework, seven years after you have handed it in," Labor leader Rebecca White said.
"It is disingenuous for the Liberal government to pretend it is a new idea."
Ms White said without further action to limit emissions the state may not maintain net zero status.
Tasmania plans to double renewable energy generation, and export green hydrogen by 2030.
Mr Gutwein said investing in emissions reduction would provide a $475 million boost to the economy by 2050 and create more than 1200 jobs.
"As our economy and population grows, and the risk of bushfires increases, we cannot rest on our past achievements," he said.
"We need to take further climate action to deliver the jobs and investment that will flow from a low emissions economy."
A draft bill will be open for public consultation for the next five weeks.
The legislation includes a climate action plan and a statewide climate risk assessment every five years.
"A target of net zero carbon emissions in 2030 might be nation-leading if we hadn't achieved it ... years ago," Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff said.
The state government will develop a framework to ensure government policies consider climate change and set up "reduction and resilience" plans for key industries.
Queensland's parliament this week backed a target of net zero emissions by 2050.
Australian Associated Press
