Responding to news that Labor would agree to Coalition demands to rewrite environment laws to fast-track new gas projects in the middle of a climate crisis, Greens leader Adam Bandt said Labor had been exposed as climate change con artists willing to let Peter Dutton write their climate laws.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers is reported as saying in a major speech today that he has written to the Coalition advising that the government is amending the Environment and Biodiversity Protection and Conservation Act to fast-track new gas projects in a manner requested by the Coalition.
The Greens also called on the Treasurer to publicly release his climate correspondence with the Coalition.
Greens Leader Adam Bandt said:
“Labor are climate con artists.
”Labor is doing a dirty deal with Peter Dutton on climate and the Greens will fight them tooth and nail.
“The Treasurer has exposed Labor as climate charlatans, working with Peter Dutton to fast-track new gas mines in the middle of a climate crisis.
“You can’t trust Labor on climate.
“Labor is letting Peter Dutton rewrite our environment laws to fast-track gas projects.
”Gas is as dirty as coal. You can’t put the fire out while pouring petrol on it. The first step to fixing a problem is to stop making the problem worse.
“Instead of stopping more coal and gas mines, Labor is working with Peter Dutton to fast-track new gas mines, making the climate crisis worse.
“Labor must immediately release their correspondence with the Coalition so the public can see what dirty deals are happening.”
Greens spokesperson for the environment and water Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“This is short sighted and dangerous for our climate and environment. Let’s call this for what it is – the Labor government is trashing environment laws to fast track the gas industry’s profit.
“It’s disappointing to see the Treasurer is sidelining the Environment Minister – gutting environment laws to fast track expansion of coal and gas.”