‘Pausing coal projects’: Greens soften on safeguard negotiations

The Greens say they will consider softening their stance from banning new mines to just pausing them, in order to pass Labor’s signature plan to cut emissions. Here’s why.

Pausing approvals of new coal and gas mines, rather than an outright ban, would be considered by the Greens as part of the intensifying negotiations to pass Labor’s signature plan to cut emissions.

Last week Greens leader Adam Bandt said his party would back the safeguard mechanism, a carbon cap-and-trade scheme intended to reduce emissions 43 per cent by 2030, if the Albanese Government committed to banning new coal and gas mines.

With the Coalition opposing the laws, Labor will need the Greens support in the Senate to get it legislated before its planned July 1 start date.

Greens leader Adam Bandt. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

In a softening of his stance, Mr Bandt said on Sunday morning the party would consider agreeing to a pause on new coal and gas while the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act was toughened.

“If Labor has a different way of dealing with the question of coal and gas … why don’t we put a climate trigger in our environment laws to take into account what it’s going to do to the climate when you’re looking at new projects,” Mr Bandt told Sky News.

“Others have said why don’t we put a pause on approvals while we have a look at his in a holistic way.

“We’re happy to have a look at suggestions that are put on the table about how to deal with this question of coal and gas, but the ball is squarely in the government’s court now.”

Industry Minister Ed Husic urged the Greens to get on board, saying “it was a moment in time to get things right”.

Industry Minister Ed Husic. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“The safeguards are a big part of us being able to reduce emissions and increasing jobs at the same time with all the things we are doing,” Mr Husic said.

“We want to have a constructive approach.

“Can we learn the lessons, can we do better, can we work as a parliament to achieve the kinds of things that the public wants.”

Opposition climate change and energy spokesman Ted O’Brien has described Labor’s proposed changes to the safeguard mechanism, originally implemented by the Abbott Government, as “decapitating the economy instead of decarbonising at”.

The mechanism is a carbon cap-and-trade scheme which will progressively lower the maximum emissions for Australia’s 215 highest emitters year-on-year, which Labor says will reduction the nation’s emissions by 205 million tonnes.