Greens threaten to upturn Labor agenda

The Greens say they have the numbers to derail Labor’s legislative plans as Anthony Albanese urges the party to end the climate wars and back a 2030 emissions target.

Adam Bandt says the Greens should be given a seat at the table at the government’s jobs and skills summit because his party has the power to veto any changes to workplace laws. Picture: Sarah Marshall

The Greens are warning they have the numbers to derail Labor’s legislative plans – including on climate change and industrial relations – as Anthony Albanese urges the left-wing party to end the climate wars and endorse a bill to enshrine a 2030 emissions target in law.

The Prime Minister said the Greens and independents should support Labor’s climate change bill when it is presented in parliament later this month, accusing the Adam Bandt-led party of contributing to the past decade of policy inaction by opposing Kevin Rudd’s emissions trading scheme in 2009.

Labor’s climate change bill, due to be debated in the next parliamentary fortnight, will not pass the Senate and become law if the Greens team up with the Coalition to oppose it.

“We have a mandate for our position on climate. We announced it in December last year. We announced 43 per cent by 2030. We announced 82 per cent renewables as part of the national energy market by 2030,” Mr Albanese said.

“If the Greens party haven’t learned from what they did in 2009, that was something that led to a decade of inaction and delay and denial, then that will be a matter for them.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: Gaye Gerard

But Mr Bandt said Labor’s target to lower carbon emissions by 43 per cent of 2005 levels by 2030 would lead to worse droughts, floods and the “death of the Great Barrier Reef”.

“Labor won’t end the climate wars by opening new coal and gas projects,” Mr Bandt said.

“Labor’s vote went backwards this election and they don’t have a majority in the Senate. People want politicians to work together on something as important as climate and the Greens are up for that, but Labor’s ‘my way or the highway’ approach is the kind of hairy-chested politics the public has just rejected.”

In a sign the Greens are willing to flex their larger numbers in parliament, Mr Bandt told The Australian the party should be given a seat at the table at the government’s jobs and skills summit in September because it had the power to veto any changes to workplace laws.

“The government will need the Greens’ support to change the country’s workplace laws,” Mr Bandt said.

“The Greens would be keen to contribute to the summit, but whether it is there or in the parliament, we will push to outlaw insecure work, restore people’s rights to organise for better conditions, set the minimum wage at 60 per cent of the median wage and close the gender pay gap.”

Mr Albanese said the increase in natural disasters showed the need to pursue a consensus approach on climate change, ruling out major changes to the agenda Labor took to the election.

“I don’t know what it takes to wake up people, whether they be on any side of the political ­spectrum, to the fact that we need to work together and stop the conflict and work in a way that delivers outcomes,” Mr Albanese said.

“We’ll put forward the legislation before the parliament, Every member of the house and every member of the Senate should vote for it. If they don’t, they’ll be held accountable for it.”

Independent MPs and opposition Treasury spokesman Angus Taylor are also demanding a seat at the table of the jobs and skills summit, which will be confined to 100 people.

Goldstein MP Zoe Daniel said inviting independent MPs to the event would help deliver consensus about the reforms needed to set up Australia’s workforce for the jobs of the future.

“Bob Hawke’s emphasis on consensus was one of the keys to the success of his approach to jobs and skills,” Ms Daniel said.

“In that light I do hope that the Prime Minister invites independent MPs like me to his summit.

“Mr Albanese is right to highlight productivity as a focus for the jobs and skills summit, and on that score access to affordable childcare ought to be a high priority for the summit.

“I am particularly concerned about the interaction of work and care, especially the impact on lower-paid workers in precarious employment, predominantly women, and their families.”

Fowler MP Dai Le said she had a “lived experience that could be contributed to that roundtable”.

“I hope they see us as an important contributor and … we’ll be invited to have a seat at the table, because it’s very important,” she told Sky News.

North Sydney MP Kylea Tink said she would welcome being part of the summit “if the opportunity arises”.

“In these tough economic times, with interest rates rising and the cost of living going up, we must start to address sustainable wages growth in line with inflation, increase job opportunities in both the renewable energy sector and the care economy, and address the gender pay gap for women,” she said.

The summit was welcomed by Mackellar MP Sophie Scamps, Wentworth MP Allegra Spender and Curtin MP Kate Chaney.

Mr Albanese said he would consider whether the Coalition would be involved in the summit.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said he would consult with independent MPs on employment issues even if they were not invited to the summit.

“One hundred people sounds like a lot of people until you start to work out who’s in the first list and who might not be,” he told the ABC.

“But even for the people who aren’t in the 100, we will find ways to consult with them in meaningful ways, including all parts of the parliament, but we haven’t finalised the invitation list yet.”