Turnbull government signals new approach to climate policy

Staff at the Australian Renewable Energy Agency were told on Monday they were being transferred from industry department to department of the environment

The Turnbull government is signalling a new approach to climate policy despite its pledge to stick with the "Direct Action" climate plan, abandoning Tony Abbott's attempt to abolish two key renewable energy agencies and considering tougher "safeguards" to ensure the policy actually reduces emissions.

Staff at the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Arena), a body set up by the former Labor government to increase the use of renewable energy, were told on Monday they were being transferred from the industry department to the department of the environment.