Greens hint at support for Labor’s 2030 target

Greens leader Adam Bandt has signalled his party may bend to Labor’s push to legislate its emissions reduction target.

Greens leader Adam Bandt. Picture: Josh Woning

Greens leader Adam Bandt has signalled his party may bend to Labor’s push to legislate its emissions reduction target, but has urged Anthony Albanese to at least come to the table and allow for negotiations to take place.

Anthony Albanese and Climate Minister Chris Bowen formally announced Australia‘s updated 2030 emissions reduction target of 43 per cent in a pledge to the United Nations last week and signalled legislation to bake it in would be presented to parliament at the end of July.

The Coalition is divided on the proposal, with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton signalling on Sunday the Liberal Party would not support the legislated target, while other Coalition MPs, such as moderate Simon Birmingham, said they wanted to see the legislation before forming a position.

To pass the legislation through the Senate, Labor will likely need the support of the Greens, but the Prime Minister has been clear he will not negotiate on the target.

Mr Bandt slammed the “take it or leave it” approach, which gave the Greens “an ultimatum”.

“At the moment, the government’s approach is it’s my way or the highway and the government’s been very clear that they’re not going to consider amendments there,” he said on the ABC.

“They’re adopting it on a take it or leave it approach and I think that kind of hairy-chested approach from the government is what the people have just rejected, and they don’t want these kinds of ultimatums being put to parliament on a take it or leave it basis.”

However, when pressed on whether the Greens would support a 43 per cent target if Mr Albanese refused to negotiate Mr Bandt left the door open.

“Well, we’ll see,” he said. “We’ll sit down and have a look at the legislation. All I can say at the ­moment is we will approach in the spirit of good faith. We know we need climate action, we’re prepared to have discussions with the government and with the aim of reaching an agreement.”

While the comments prompted hope from Labor that the Greens may support the target passing the Senate, Mr Bandt was quick to reiterate his attack on the government for its approach later that same day.

“Labor is bringing a weak target to parliament that means the end of the Great Barrier Reef. Labor’s target is not consistent with the goals of the Paris agreement. It means more floods and was advised that it is necessary,” he said in a press conference.

“Labor is now an obstacle to greater climate action and they are refusing to listen to the will of the people who have just delivered a big mandate for climate (action) … at the election.

“There is appetite in this parliament now for ambition in line with the science but the only obstacle to good climate action now is Labor itself and its stubborn ­refusal to consider any changes to its weak climate target.”

Mr Bandt also criticised the ­recent announcement over the capacity mechanism, which left the choice of whether to include coal and gas to the States, as ­rewarding big polluters.

“Energy ministers should not prop up the coal and gas industry. It is time it is dead and to hold these coal and gas corporations to account,” he said.