Fossil fuel support key to minority government negotiations: Greens

The Greens will use any power they have in a post-election hung parliament to axe taxpayer support for the coal and gas industry.

Greens senator Dorinda Cox. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The Greens have vowed to use any power they have in a post-election hung parliament to axe taxpayer support for the coal and gas industry, as the party joined Labor in pushing its tax breaks for critical minerals producers through parliament.

Joining forces with the Albanese government in support of the tax breaks at the heart of Anthony Albanese’s Future Made in Australia agenda, Greens resources spokeswoman Dorina Cox signalled that the collaboration was a taste of what voters could expect in the event of it formally partnering with Labor.

“We could go further and with the Greens in minority government in the 48th [parliament] this is actually possible, and will make a difference to all Australians,” she told the Senate.

After Labor secured the Greens’ support for the tax deductions in December on the proviso that fossil fuel projects would not be eligible for industry aid under the scheme, Senator Cox flagged the minor party would abolish support for the coal and gas industry in the event it formed minority government with Labor.

“This does nothing to reduce the subsidies given to the fossil fuel industry,” she said. “Having Greens in power will absolutely stop us from creating those backdoor deals.”

Chief among the Greens’ demands is a longstanding call to dismantle the lucrative diesel fuel tax credit that benefits Australia’s major miners. The Greens argue the measure is undermining efforts to decarbonise the economy, however Resources Minister Madeleine King has promised not to take away fuel tax credits.

With polls pointing to a hung parliament after the election, Greens MPs and senators have grown increasingly vocal in pushing a formal power-sharing agreement in the event Labor falls short of forming a majority government.

Anthony Albanese has dismissed the Greens’ overtures and previously ruled out any power-sharing arrangement with the minor party or other crossbenchers, arguing Labor plans to form a majority government in its own right.

Nationals Senate leader Bridget McKenzie said Senator Cox’s comments illustrated its intentions for “power sharing with Labor”.

“Adam Bandt and his team are not just measuring up the curtains in the Cabinet room but remodelling the ministerial suites to green,” she said.