Anthony Albanese faces fight over major election promise

The Prime Minister has put one group on notice ahead of parliament’s return, insisting he will not back down on one major election promise.

Anthony Albanese has put the Greens and the crossbench on notice, warning he will not buckle to pressure to increase his climate targets.

The Prime Minister will next week introduce a Bill to enshrine a 43 per cent emission reduction target by 2030 and net zero by 2050.

The government’s approach has come under fire from the crossbench who have accused it of taking a “my way or the highway” approach to the legislation.

Speaking with ABC Radio on Thursday, Mr Albanese turned the tables on the Greens, insisting it was them who were playing hardball.

“Largely, the Greens have been really talking publicly rather than what they’ve been saying to us,” he said.

Anthony Albanese has defended his approach. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

“We're happy to consider any sensible amendments that can improve legislation.

“But what we're not happy to do, to be very clear, is to change the issue that we have a mandate for.”

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen briefed the crossbench and the Greens on the legislation last week.

While the government does not need to legislate the targets, it wants them enshrined in order to give business certainty.

The Bill is set to be introduced to the House of Representatives on Wednesday or Thursday next week.

After it passes the lower house, which the government hopes will occur over the coming fortnight, it will then be sent to a Senate committee and put to the upper house when parliament returns in September.

With just 26 votes on the floor of the Senate, the government needs to win over the Greens and the crossbench after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton ruled out the Coalition’s support.

The Greens want to see the bill ‘Dutton-proofed’. Picture: NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

But the Greens want the Bill to operate as a floor, not a ceiling, and have raised concerns about enforcement mechanisms.

Leader Adam Bandt has said he wants to see the Bill “Dutton-proofed” so a future government could not lower the targets at a later date.

“We will engage in good faith negotiations with the government, and we hope the government will drop its insistence on having a weak target and opening more coal and gas,” he said.

But Mr Albanese declared he would not be moved.

“I’ve seen the movie whereby you have a government that says one thing before an election and something different afterwards. And I know how it ends. It ends badly,” he said.