Greens ‘will oppose’ Labor government’s fossil fuels funding

Greens leader Adam Bandt will seek to amend Labor’s October budget to stop a cent of public money from going to fossil fuels, declaring the next parliamentary term could be a “golden era for progressive change”.

The Greens will not support any attempt by the Australian Government to help out the fossil fuel industry. Picture: Phill Magakoe/AFP

Greens leader Adam Bandt will seek to amend Labor’s October budget to stop a cent of public money from going to fossil fuels, declaring the next parliamentary term could be a “golden era for progressive change”.

After the Greens won huge swings across the country and claimed six additional seats in the lower and upper houses, Mr Bandt said the party would use its numbers “to amend the budget to stop the handouts to the fossil fuel industry”.

In his national conference speech on Saturday, Mr Bandt said “whether it is the Beetaloo, Scarborough, Barossa, Narrabri, new coal mines in Queensland, or new gas projects in the waters of the 12 Apostles in Victoria, we will oppose them”.

Mr Bandt also said the Greens would “never support an austerity budget which cuts the basic and essential services people need”, and urged the government to reverse the stage three tax cuts for higher income earners which commence in July 2024.

Greens Leader Adam Brandt. Picture: David Crosling/AAP Image

“We will always fight to make big corporations and billionaires pay their fair share of tax,” he said.

“We oppose the tax cuts to billionaires Labor is preparing to include in its first budget.

“The government must not proceed with these unfair tax cuts ... Working people and those living below the poverty line need assistance before more special treatment is doled out to Clive Palmer, Gerry Harvey and Kerry Stokes.”

Mr Bandt said the Greens were now the third-most powerful political force in the country and gaining in support on the Labor Party.

The Greens hold 12 upper house seats and Labor holds 26, meaning Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will need the support of the Greens and one crossbencher to pass his agenda through the Senate where the Coalition opposes his legislation.

“This election, the vote for the old parties collapsed,” Mr Bandt said. “The Greens vote is almost 40 per cent of the government’s low vote, where less than a third of the country voted for them.”

Mr Bandt said the climate crisis would be his major focus, arguing it was the result of the “mining and burning of coal and gas”.

“We cannot get off coal and gas while we hand them billions of dollars of public money. Right now, the country is being held hostage by the gas companies,” he said. “They’re making massive profits, exporting our gas, and driving up power prices and fuelling the climate crisis.”

Mr Bandt said the new government had been handed a “powerful mandate to act on the climate crisis”.

“We simply cannot just rely on the new government to see reason or act in the public’s best interest, because they want more coal and gas,” he said. “Coal and gas’s days are numbered but the industry has too much power. We can see now how the gas companies are ripping this country off and holding us to ransom.”

“The climate crisis is caused by more coal and gas. And you can’t tackle the climate crisis by pouring more fuel on the fire.”

Mr Bandt flagged his ambition to further increase the Greens’ representation in federal parliament after picking up Ryan, Brisbane and Griffith in Queensland.

“Next election, I know we can grow again. I think can win even more lower house seats,” he said.

“The demands of the electorate for climate action, economic and social justice, fairness and integrity are loud and clear.”

Mr Bandt said the Greens would seek to address the challenges of economic hardship, climate damage, First Nations justice and “obscene wealth”.