Blocking new coal, gas projects key demand in minority government negotiations, Greens say
With less than a week before Australia votes, the Greens have revealed a key demand Anthony Albanese will need to consider if he needs to form minority government.
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The Greens will demand Labor block any new coal or gas projects if Anthony Albanese is forced into power-sharing negotiations after next week’s federal election, the minor party says.
If Labor falls short of the 76 seats needed to govern in majority, it would need to look to the crossbench to form government.
The Greens have hounded the Albanese government for greenlighting dozens of new coal mines and gas wells over its first term, and will on Monday use Parliamentary Library analysis to claim Climate Minister Chris Bowen could block new projects under existing laws.
“In the middle of a climate crisis, Tanya Plibersek has approved new coal mines that will release 2.5 billion tonnes of climate pollution,” Greens leader Adam Bandt said in a statement.
“If the Environment Minister won’t act, the Greens will get the Climate Minister to do it.
“The Greens will keep Dutton out and get Labor to stop approving new coal and gas mines, because you can’t put the fire out while pouring petrol on it.”
According to the Parliamentary Library, Mr Bowen may be able to restrict projects under the Safeguard Mechanism, which requires polluters to limit emissions to the national targets of 43 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 and net zero by 2050.
The Parliamentary Library acknowledged the “area of law is complex” and warned its brief “may not be fully comprehensive”.
Though, Mr Bandt was confident, saying that through Safeguard Mechanism negotiations, the Greens “gave the Climate Minister the power to stop new coal and gas mines with the stroke of a pen, and with more Greens in minority Parliament we’ll get him to use it”.
“They talk up renewables but open up coal and gas. Labor are climate charlatans and the Liberals climate criminals,” he said.
“If you’re worried about climate change, you can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result.
“If you want climate action, you have to vote for it, because it’s clear Labor won’t act on climate unless pushed.”
The Greens have flagged four other key demands, including expanding Medicare to cover dental health, negative gearing and capital gains tax reform, ending logging in native forests, and free universal early childhood education.
The Prime Minister has ruled out negotiating with the Greens to secure a minority government, but his pathways would be limited, based on the current make up of the House and Senate.
Mr Albanese has also flatly rejected any changes to negative gearing, which housing reformists have identified as a major hurdle for first home buyers.
Originally published as Blocking new coal, gas projects key demand in minority government negotiations, Greens say
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