‘Find a compromise’: Teal MP Allegra Spender’s warning on Labor-Greens ‘climate trigger’ deal

A climate-conscious independent MP has warned Labor against doing a deal with the Greens for a ‘climate trigger’ that could derail crucial business projects.

EXCLUSIVE

An environment-conscious independent MP is calling on the Albanese government to “compromise” on controversial demands from the Greens’ for a climate trigger, saying climate change policies should be designed to fast-track clean energy projects not slow them down.

Wentworth Teal independent Allegra Spender made the comments after business industry warnings a climate trigger could derail the renewables revolution by slowing down the mining of critical minerals needed for the transition.

After Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek was savaged by the business community for conceding she was negotiating with the Greens on climate considerations, including a climate trigger, Ms Spender said a compromise was needed “that works practically for business and for nature.”

Allegra Spender reads a motion of condolence for the six people stabbed to death at Westfield Bondi Junction before Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Martin Ollman

In their 2022 proposal, the Greens wanted a “trigger” that would block a project if it had more than 100,000 tonnes of emissions.

More than 200 facilities in Australia currently emit over 100,000 tonnes of emissions and while most are fossil fuel projects, they also include lithium mines — a mineral crucial in making batteries for electric cars and storage.

The Sydney independent, who was elected to parliament on a climate action, has also been a vocal advocate for businesses and economic growth.

“Climate change is the biggest threat to nature, so it makes sense to account for it in our national environmental law,” she told the Sunday Telegraph.

“I don’t support the Greens 2022 proposal to ban all projects with scope 1 emissions above 100,000 tonnes. We need to find a compromise that works practically for business and for nature.

Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Martin Ollman

“I want to see climate incorporated in a way that helps accelerate clean energy projects, takes account of the harm caused by large amounts of climate pollution and is consistent with policies like the safeguard mechanism.”

The safeguard mechanism is an existing policy which requires the country’s biggest polluters to reduce their emissions in accordance with a target of reducing Australia’s emissions by 43 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 and net zero by 2050.

Ms Spender’s comments mark a split within the Teal independents, with Mackellar MP Sophie Scamps telling the Telegraph a climate trigger was a “sensible idea”.

“A climate trigger was proposed as long ago as 2000 by the then Coalition environment minister, Robert Hill, and is a sensible idea as climate and the survival of our nature and wildlife are inextricably linked.”

Mr Hill’s proposal introduced in parliament 24 years ago was to apply to any new developments if they were likely to result in greenhouse gas emissions of more than 0.5m tonnes of carbon dioxide in any 12 month period.

The proposal was rejected.