2021-12-06
The Greens today repeated their call to kick out the Liberals, but slammed Labor’s weak climate targets and promise that “not one coal fired power station will close due to Labor’s policy” in the face of urgent global demands for climate action, saying the more we hear about Labor’s climate policy the worse it gets.
Labor’s Chris Bowen today also confirmed that under Labor’s policy:
- there will be the same amount of coal in the system as under the Liberals
- not one coal-fired power station will close early and CoalKeeper will be retained
- coal and gas exports will not be reduced
- the opening of the Beetaloo gas basin will continue to be supported
- their 2030 target is not based on the science.
The Independent Climate Targets Panel, the Climate Council and the climate and environment movement have all determined that Australia needs to rapidly phase out coal and gas and commit to a 74–75% by 2030 target, in line with the UK’s 68% by 2030 cut.
Quotes attributable to Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP:
"We need to kick the Liberals out, but the more we hear about Labor’s climate policy, the worse it gets.
"Labor boasts that its policy means the same amount of coal and gas as the Liberals, which is a climate disaster.
"Labor proudly says that not one coal-fired power station will close earlier than under the Liberals, that coal and gas mines can keep growing and that the Beetaloo methane bomb will be supported.
"Disappointingly, Labor is now joining the Liberals: giving in to the coal and gas corporations and giving up on the science.
"Labor now joins the Liberals with policies that give up on the science, give up on Glasgow and giving up on climate.
"Business as usual for coal and gas takes us past the point of no return. The Liberals are taking us over the cliff at 200 km/h while Labor’s promising to do it at 180 km/h. Both their plans mean Australia heats up by more than 3 degrees, which is game over for our country.
"With Labor matching the Liberals on more coal and gas, it’s clear the only way we’ll get climate action is by kicking the Liberals out and putting Greens in balance of power to push the next government to listen to the science."