Scott Morrison has accused critics of his 2050 net-zero plan of not understanding Australia as pressure grows over climate change action.
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The prime minister on Wednesday defended his government's path to 2050 that relies 85 per cent on existing technology and 15 per cent on new breakthroughs.
Influential software billionaire and climate advocate Mike Cannon-Brookes slammed the presentation as "just more bullsh*t".
A chorus of international and domestic critics including David Attenborough blasted the plan for lacking detail and failing to increase 2030 emissions reduction targets.
Mr Morrison rejected the barrage of disapproval, saying it came from people who wanted to tax, regulate and shut industries down.
"Everyone else who doesn't understand Australia, our economy and the challenges we have here are entitled to their opinions," he told the Seven Network on Wednesday.
"But I will do what is right for Australia and we are getting results."
The government argues it has reduced carbon emissions 20 per cent since 2005 and projects a cut of 30 to 35 per cent by the end of the decade.
But it is not budging on its 2030 target of 26 to 28 per cent ahead of the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow, which the prime minister will attend next week.
"Australia's actions and results speak more than the words of others," Mr Morrison said.
"We're getting it done, Australians want it done but they don't want to throw their livelihoods away."
Mr Morrison defended pinning hopes on technologies which have not yet been developed.
"I'm sure people said that to Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, but we didn't need a tax or a law to develop the iPhone or develop a COVID vaccine," he told 2GB radio.
Labor climate spokesman Chris Bowen said the next election would be a climate change contest, labelling the announcement a "steaming pile of nothingness".
The opposition is waiting to see what comes out of the Glasgow summit before finalising a climate policy it will take to voters.
Energy Minister Angus Taylor was grilled about why modelling underpinning key assumptions about the economic impact of a 2050 target was not released.
"The modelling will be released at an appropriate time," he told the ABC.
The government plan claims 100,000 jobs will be created in renewable energy alongside 62,000 roles in regional mining and heavy industry.
It also suggests people will be on average $2000 better off and electricity prices won't rise.
There are outstanding questions about what the Nationals were promised in exchange for the junior coalition partner's lukewarm support for a 2050 net-zero goal.
While Resources Minister Keith Pitt has returned to cabinet, it is unclear what other sweeteners were offered.
Australian Associated Press
