Renewable energy target: Senate sits late to pass bill without amendment

Chamber of commerce says deal surmounts 'major hurdle' as Greens and environmentalists attack Coalition pledge to create a windfarm commissioner

Legislation to reduce the renewable energy target from 41,000 gigawatt hours to 33,000gWh has passed both houses of parliament. The Senate sat late on Tuesday to pass the bill.

Labor and the Coalition struck a deal on the target in May after a months-long standoff that the renewables industry said undermined investment.