Greens’ proposed power-sharing deal with Labor would trigger thousands of job losses

Tens of thousands of workers across the country would be unemployed if Labor caved to a radical plan to win power in a hung parliament.

Radical Greens party demands to halt all new coal, oil, and gas exploration projects in exchange for giving Labor the balance of power in a hung parliament would cost NSW more than 13,300 jobs and put $19 billion in investment at risk.

According to government analysis seen by The Daily Telegraph, such a power sharing deal would also put at risk more than 80,000 jobs across the entire country and as much as $500 billion worth of investment.

Particularly hard hit would be projects around the Hunter Region, which is shaping up to be a key battleground in the coming federal election.

The NSW Government have released an assessment report into the Maxwell Underground Mine Project in Jerrys Plains. The infrastructure from the old Drayton Coal mine that will be re-used in the proposed Maxwell Underground mine, but this plan is under threat if the Greens hold the balance of power in parliament. Picture: Toby Zerna

Around $8 billion and more than 8,000 jobs would be at risk around the federal seat of Newcastle alone, the figures suggest.

Among the projects that would be put at risk include mines around the Muswellbrook, Singleton, and Newcastle areas as well as feasibility studies into future pipelines networking the Hunter with Sydney and gas terminals at Port Kembla and Newcastle.

On Monday, Labor leader Anthony Albanese kiboshed suggestions that Labor might go along with the Greens’ proposal, calling it a “con” and saying, “if we win government we will implement our plan, not negotiate with fringe groups.”

Australian Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Australian Greens leader Adam Bandt. Picture: Liam Kidston

“We have our own policies that we’re taking to the electorate. I am seeking a majority government,” Mr Albanese said.

However Energy Minister Angus Taylor said, “The Greens have revealed that a Labor-Greens Coalition under Anthony Albanese will ban future coal, oil and gas projects.

“Labor and the Greens are willing to push up the price of electricity and fuel for Australian families to appease activists in their ranks”.

While the Greens currently only hold one seat in the House of Representatives, the party also holds nine seats in the Senate. At the 2019 election, Greens preferences heavily flowed to the Labor Party.

Of the $500 billion put at risk, the analysis also found that $185 billion of those funds are already committed to lowering emissions through various hydrogen, ammonia, and carbon and capture storage projects.

Resources Minister Keith Pitt. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Resources Minister Keith Pitt slammed the Greens’ demands, saying, “The resources and energy sector contributed just over $35 billion last year in royalties and taxes and that figure will be even higher this year.

“Anthony Albanese and his mate Adam Bandt have to be upfront with Australians about which pensioners, schools, hospitals and other important recipients will lose funding under this proposed deal between Labor and The Greens.

“Along with the loss of thousands of regionals jobs, this will be the real cost of each-way Albo’s arrangement with The Greens for Labor to form government.

“The publicly stated positions on resources by a number of Labor front benchers would make a Labor-Greens Alliance a seamless transition and a natural fit.”