Greens-Labor power sharing deal: Qld coalmines in sights

Signalling they will push Labor hard on climate change in any power sharing deal after the election, the Greens have revealed what this will mean for Queensland coalminers.

The Greens have vowed to push Labor to go further and faster on climate change as they plot to share power if Anthony Albanese ends up leading a minority government.

Greens leader Adam Brandt also warned Central Queensland miners the party wouldn’t lie to them about the change that was coming.

He revealed four key points would be the starting point for negotiations if the minor party held the balance of power in a hung parliament.

A tax on billionaires and big business, a free childcare plan that would cost $20 billion over four years, adding dental and mental health to Medicare and a social housing scheme will be the starting point for talks.

Mr Bandt said they would push the next government “further and faster” on climate, with their existing policies including phasing out thermal coal and a 75 per cent emissions reduction by 2030.

It would be a case of “improving, not blocking” if the party had to work with Labor in the Upper or Lower House, Mr Bandt said, but there would be no deal with the Coalition.

“We would kick the Liberals and Scott Morrison out; they don’t deserve another term,” he said.

Greens leader Adam Bandt says he won’t lie to Queensland coalminers.

Despite plans to phase out thermal coal mining, Mr Bandt admitted the industry had been powering the nation and the party needed to do more to explain how to transition areas dependent on fossil fuels.

“We owe coal and gas workers a debt of thanks for helping power our country. But change is coming,” he said.

“I’ve been travelling to coal communities around the country listening to what people have to say. We will take a very clear position this time. The best job for a coalminer is another mining job.”

Mr Bandt said those jobs would be in supporting renewables, green hydrogen and manufacturing.

“What you will hear from the Greens this time is that coal communities and workers are owed a debt of thanks for the work they do,” he said.

“It’s not the community or workers’ fault that coal and gas cause the climate crisis.”

Asked how coal communities in Central and North Queensland would react to those comments, Mr Bandt said people would make up their own minds.

“People won’t always agree with what we say, but we won’t be lying to the people,” he said.

“We’re the only ones who aren’t lying to workers and communities about the scale of the change that’s ahead of us.”

The key policies include that companies with a turnover of $100 million or more would face a 40 per cent tax on their super profits, and billionaires a 6 per cent tax.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has ruled out a power-sharing arrangement with the Greens. Picture: Rohan Thomson/Getty Images

The Greens’ housing plan includes building one million social housing residences, with 125,000 set aside for first-home buyers to be sold for $300,000 and bought with a 10 per cent deposit and sold back to the government when they move on.

“We will put those on the table straight after the election,” Mr Bandt said.

“We think we can get a good outcome by negotiating with the next government.

“We will have important things to say about climate … including plans for no more coal and gas.

“We’ll have more to say about that later.”

It comes among speculation there could be a minority government after the election expected in May, with both Labor and the Coalition’s primary vote below 40 per cent while the Greens are about 10 per cent and “other” account for 13 per cent.

Mr Albanese has ruled out a power-sharing deal with the Greens.

Targeting the city-based seats of Griffith, Brisbane and Ryan, Mr Bandt said Queensland would decide the next election.

“It will be incredibly close. Queensland voters are some of the most powerful in the country,” he said.

“Just a few hundred people need to shift their vote and we will be in a power-sharing government.”