‘Out of the dark ages’: Greens to force climate action if they win WA balance of power

The WA Greens intend to leverage a balance of power scenario in the upper house to push the next government to increase royalties from oil and gas and improve its response to climate change.

On Friday, the Greens unveiled their climate policies, including pushing for a 10 per cent “clean energy transition levy” on existing onshore gas projects, which the party estimates would earn the state $4.1 billion a year.

The Greens expect to win four upper house seats at the next election.Credit: Ross Swanborough

That money would be spent on fire and emergency services, the party’s residential renewables policy, building green energy projects, green iron projects, and decommissioning gas projects.

The Greens would also push for a Climate Change Act, legislating 2030 and 2050 emissions and renewable energy targets, aligned with the Paris Agreement.

The WA government pledged to legislate a 2050 target by the end of the current term, but have failed to do so.

It is highly unlikely that Labor will retain its upper house majority after the March 8 poll, meaning it will be required to negotiate with the rest of the chamber to pursue its legislative agenda.

Recent Greens polling suggests the party can pick up four seats in the upper house which puts them in a good position to hold the balance of power when the (likely Labor) new government attempts to pass legislation without a majority.

WA is the only state in the nation where emissions have risen, which Premier Roger Cook has previously said was for the good of the globe as its gas was sent around the world to help decarbonise coal-reliant economies.

Greens WA fossil fuel spokesperson Sophie McNeill said her party securing the balance of power was the only way the state would see meaningful climate action.

“Only through the Greens securing the balance of power will see WA finally come out of the dark ages on climate and have a clear plan for how to build a safe green future,” she said.

WA Greens upper house hopeful and fossil fuels spokeswoman Sophie McNeill.Credit: Greens WA

“The Cook government’s obstruction of climate action is so blatant, state Labor MPs are choosing to leave politics to go work in the climate space because they’ll have more chance of helping reduce emissions from outside this government than within it.

“Meanwhile, our state is being increasingly left out of the green boom because of WA Labor’s continued obsession with fossil fuel expansion and new gas.”

Premier Roger Cook dismissed the Greens demands.

“It also is the clearest demonstration yet that the Greens will make everyone’s energy costs higher,” he said.

“The Greens will make industry’s energy costs higher and this is another example of how the Greens simply come out and say this or say that – whatever occurs to them today.

The Greens are a slogan. They’re not a political party or a political policy.”

When asked what deals he would make with the Greens Cook said it would only be to implement his government’s mandate if elected.

Australian Energy Producers chief executive Samantha McCulloch said the Greens’ policy would smash WA’s economy and energy security.

“WA’s gas industry is powering the state’s economy, providing reliable and affordable energy, supporting tens of thousands of jobs, and delivering billions to the state budget,” she said.

“Natural gas provides 60 per cent of the state’s electricity and more than half of the energy used by WA’s mining and minerals processing sector.”

McCulloch said much of the industry’s taxation arrangements were set by the Commonwealth but that the WA industry was forecast to pay $2.85 billion in state royalties from 2022 to 2025.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.