Labor backs climate emergency while Greens stage protest at Parliament House

Scott Morrison has said Labor is engaged in a climate “fight club” as the government faced a Question Time grilling over its emission reduction policies.

The Federal Government has been pressed during Question Time on its perceived inaction on climate change just hours after Labor announced it would support declaring a climate emergency.

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie accused the Morrison Government of being “in denial” and asked: “When will the government take real action to reduce emissions?”.

“The government claims Australia will meet its Paris agreement targets at a canter, the truth is the government is relying on accounting tricks to meet the target.

“Official government figures show emissions have reached record highs and continue to rise feeding the climate emergency, the effects we are seeing in our backyard with the drought and fires.”

Minister for Energy Angus Taylor rebutted that the government was focused on “real and meaningful action” as opposed to “symbolism”.

“We have a clear plan to meet our 2030 targets, through our fully funded climate solutions package, $3.5 million climate solutions package, including (a) hydro project in Tasmania,” Mr Taylor said.

The government was pressed during question time on its perceived inaction on climate change. Picture: Gary Ramage

Later, in response to question from MP Jim Chalmers about slow economic growth, Prime Minister Scott Morrison let rip on Labor and its leader Anthony Albanese.

“There is a climate fight club going on over the other side,” Morrison said.

“The thing they have forgotten about climate fight club is you are not supposed to talk about it. They can’t help talking about it.

“(Anthony Albanese) wants to come into this place and effectively engage in a protest and glue his hands to the dispatch box.”

The fiery question time comes after the Greens lobbied Labor to move a climate emergency motion

The opposition’s climate spokesman Mark Butler told colleagues he was going to lodge a motion for debate in parliament declaring a climate emergency.

The party expects to get support from the Greens and crossbenchers including independent Zali Steggall for the bid.

Climate Emergency Rally on the lawns outside at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

Before parliament resumed on Monday, Greens MP Adam Bandt reportedly contacted parliamentarians in a bid to convince them to back the bill.

The announcement comes as the Greens push on with a climate change protest despite their original plans being grounded by the nation’s aviation authority.

Original plans to fly the balloon – bearing a bearing a banner reading ‘It’s a climate emergency’ – were dashed on Saturday by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority when it made parliament airspace a temporarily restricted area.

Climate Emergency Rally on the lawns outside at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

CASA’s flying ban will remain in place until October 28, after the end of the current sitting period despite successful test flights last week.

The protest has gone ahead with the multi-coloured, “carbon neutral” balloon inflated, but firmly on the ground.

About 250 joined the climate emergency protest at Parliament House. Picture: Kym Smith

About 250 people gathered on the law in front of parliament bearing signs calling on Prime Minster Scott Morrison to act on climate change.

“Scott Morrison has done everything he can to try and stop this protest,” Greens leader Richard Di Natale said.

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“Scott Morrison’s attitude is, sit on your hands when it comes to the climate emergency, but throw the book at people who are protesting peacefully because they’re sick of government inaction.

“We have today come out together to make it absolutely clear that we will not be silenced.”

The Greens have also rented out billboards near Canberra’s airport which read, ‘We are in a climate emergency. We must act now”.

The protest comes at a tense time in Australia with civil-disobedience group Extinction Rebellion making headlines for their disruption protests.

Extinction Rebellion unleashed a series of protests on Australia’s capital cities last week which cost Melbourne alone an estimated $3 million in police resources.

Originally published as Labor backs climate emergency while Greens stage protest at Parliament House