Albo stands firm on climate
PM hits back at Greens
ANTHONY Albanese is set to be given a two-day deadline to release the modelling underpinning his signature climate policy or risk an awkward stand-off in the Senate.
The Prime Minister laid down the gauntlet early on Tuesday, refusing to buckle to the Greens’ demands to strike out new fossil fuel projects, telling a business summit that gas would play a key role in the transition to renewables.
“My message is twofold. That’s a message to the Greens and others that for all of the rhetoric, if it doesn’t stack up, if it has a negative impact, then you’re not actually helping the transition of what you say your objectives are,” Mr Albanese said.
Just hours later, the minor party struck back, declaring it would attempt to have the government’s public interest immunity claim on the safeguard mechanism’s modelling thrown out in the Senate.
The safeguard mechanism is a benchmark that requires Australia’s 2015 largest greenhouse gas emitters to keep their carbon footprint below a set limit.
Firms that breach the limit would be required to purchase carbon offsets or trade emissions with other companies.
It’s a key component of Labor’s plan to reduce emissions by 43 per cent by 2030.
Modelling by Reputex, commissioned by the Climate Council and Australian Conservation Forum, showed emissions from 16 new coal and gas projects would be about 25 per cent of what the mechanism would aim to reduce.
The Greens claim it has the Coalition’s support to try to force the government to release department modelling.
If successful, the government could find itself in a sticky situation should it continue to refuse to hand over the modelling when the Thursday deadline hits.
The government remains optimistic its landmark election promise will pass, but the future of the Bill hangs in the balance. Given the Coalition is against the plan, without the support of the Greens and two crossbenchers, the safeguard mechanism will be dead in the water.
Speaking on Sky News, Greens leader Adam Bandt insisted he was continuing to have “good faith” discussions with the government, denying his no new coal or gas demand was an ultimatum.
“We put forward an offer, not an ultimatum. We said we would pass the safeguard unamended if the government agrees to stop making the problem worse, to stop pouring the petrol on the fire,” he said.
He indicated his party could be willing to come to the table should the government consider legislating the Greens’ proposed climate trigger.
This would require the Environment Minister consider the climate impact of a major development during the approval process under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.