2019-11-04
Greens Acting Leader, Adam Bandt MP, has responded to Labor Shadow Minister for Resources Joel Fitzgibbon’s attack on Victorian fracking bans, warning that unleashing toxic methane gas will blow any chance of meeting the Paris Agreement goals.
“Joel Fitzgibbon, the man Anthony Albanese has made responsible for Labor’s coal and gas policy, is trying to bully Labor Premiers into unleashing a toxic methane climate disaster,” said Mr Bandt.
“Unleashing more toxic methane is not a transition plan, it is a recipe for climate disaster.
“Australia won’t become a renewable energy superpower if we start fracking our country and releasing toxic methane.
“An increase in gas mining is a major reason Australia’s pollution keeps rising.
“To avoid climate catastrophe, we need to look beyond gas and coal and transition to a clean energy future.
“While over the weekend Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party announced a ban on fracking in Britain, in Australia Federal Labor was attacking Victorian Labor over its own important fracking ban.
“If Labor is genuine about recognising the climate emergency then they need to join us in not only stopping new polluting gas projects, but planning for a transition away from toxic industries towards the renewable energy future we desperately need.”