2025-02-13
The Greens have chalked up some significant legislative victories in what may be the final sitting week, setting the stage for what would be possible in a shared power Parliament.
This week, Greens MPs have been able to broker passage of reforms that will protect the environment and address the cost-of-living crisis.
The Greens have:
- Secured changes to the Capacity Investment Scheme to ‘Dutton-proof’ it, ensuring funds continue to flow to green energy even in the unlikely event the Liberals win power;
- Ensured families will benefit from three days of subsidised childcare by pushing the government to reform the activity test in this sitting, reversing Labor’s previous efforts to push it off to an inquiry. Twice in the last fortnight, Labor voted against Greens motions to prioritise this bill, before agreeing to pass it today, and;
- Guaranteed that no public money will be spent on Dutton’s nuclear fantasy through the FMIA’s Production Tax Credits, by ensuring uranium is barred from the scheme.
Quotes attributable to Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP:
“Greens pressure works.
“The Greens have stopped Peter Dutton’s latest attack on renewables and got Labor to act on childcare.
“In this last sitting fortnight, Labor’s priority was ramming through a deal with the Liberals to rig election laws while Peter Dutton just wanted to wreck the show.
“While the major parties just helped themselves, the Greens helped people.
“Labor was cynically delaying childcare action until after the election, Peter Dutton wanted more gas using public money and the Greens got them both to change course.
“Experts say we’re heading for a minority government, and as we’ve seen this week the Greens will keep Peter Dutton out and get Labor to act.
“Greens reforms locked in investment in green energy and storage, secured support for families with kids in childcare, and blocked Dutton giving tax breaks to nuclear. This builds on our wins in stopping new coal and gas and getting money for public housing.
“This election will be the most important election in a generation. By voting Greens, we can keep Dutton out, stop the influence of billionaires and Trump-style politics, and get Labor to act on the climate and cost of living crisis.”