Adam Bandt backs the bill but new coal, gas moratorium out of bounds

Greens leader Adam Bandt has declared his party will unanimously support the Albanese government’s ‘weak’ climate-change bill after securing several changes.

Greens leader Adam Bandt addresses the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Greens leader Adam Bandt has declared his party will unanimously support the Albanese government’s “weak” climate-change bill after securing several changes, including a so-called ratchet mechanism and a “genuine” floor so the emissions reduction target cannot be reduced.

But the government was quick to rule out using a revamped emissions safeguard mechanism to place a moratorium on new coal and gas projects, after Mr Bandt vowed to push for the reform.

Anthony Albanese also said there had been no undertakings given to the Greens on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act during negotiations on the bill, as the minor party calls for a climate trigger in the environmental laws.

The government’s rejection of two of the Greens’ top climate priorities ensures there will be future clashes in this term of parliament.

“The crossbenchers, the independents and others have been prepared to … as Adam Bandt has made clear, not get everything that he wants, not get a whole lot of things that they want,” the Prime Minister said. “With regard to the EPBC act, there has been no cross-discussion about the legislation.

“What we have is a series of amendments and we will receive support where they are consistent with the policy that we took to the election. Where they are not consistent, we won’t vote for it.”

Mr Bandt listed four key “improvements” to Labor’s bill, which legislates the government’s emissions reduction target of 43 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030.

“(It will ensure) the target can be ratcheted up over time and that it is now Dutton-proofed with a genuine floor, which means the target cannot go backwards,” the Greens leader told the National Press Club on Wednesday.

“Changes have also been made to greater transparency, accountability and strengthened requirements on the Climate Change Authority. Government agencies, such as Export Finance Australia, that in the past have funded coal and gas projects, will for the first time be forced to take climate targets into account, which put in place should see them curbed from supporting fossil fuels.” The Greens will move an amendment in the House on Thursday to introduce the Climate Change Authority transparency measure, which the party said the government had agreed to accept.

The government has made explicit in its bill that targets can only go up in accordance with the Paris agreement and says its new nationally determined contribution submitted to the UN will ensure the 43 per cent target is a floor and not a ceiling.

A host of government agencies – including the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency – will also have to consider Australia’s emissions reduction targets and their obligations under the Paris agreement as part of their performance and functions.

“We were upfront with people during the election that we would push the government to go further and faster, and when it came to this bill, our preference was to improve and pass it and that is what we have done,” Mr Bandt said.

“Did we get everything we wanted? No. Are we a step closer to stopping new coal and gas projects from opening? Yes. Have we made a weak bill better? Yes.”

The bill has been referred to the Senate’s environment and communications legislation committee, which is due to report by the end of this month.

The Greens’ climate “trigger” would force corporations to detail how much pollution new projects and mines would create, and which the Environment Minister would have to consider before giving approval under the EPBC Act.