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Tasmanian Senator Jackie Lambie has called on the Greens to drop their demands for a complete ban on new coal and gas projects and approve legislation from the Labor government’s Climate Protection Agency.
In an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on March 21, Jackie Lambie Network Party founder said the Green Party should stop “crying wolves” and support safeguard mechanisms instead.
The Safeguard Mechanism, an initiative proposed by the incumbent Labor Party, would require Australia’s 215 companies, the country’s top emitters of greenhouse gases, to reduce their emissions by 4.9% each year.
“I think demand will continue to come. I have no doubts about that. But not today.” she said.
“Safeguards are a great platform to start with. You need a starting point, you need safeguards.
“If the safeguards are not passed, we will be debating all the way to the next election.”
Lambie supported the mechanism, but her party wanted to settle some issues with the Labor Party.
Specifically, she said hundreds of manufacturers across Australia are having trouble reducing their CO2 emissions by 4.9% annually due to unavailable technology.
Mr Lambie stressed that these manufacturers need to be given a fair playing field so that Australia does not lose any more manufacturing.
The senator also said the Labor government understands the problem and the question now is what emission rate to come up with.
“It certainly won’t be 4.9% because, like I said, that technology doesn’t exist. And if the technology doesn’t exist, you can’t do that to someone,” she said. rice field.
“This is a good place to start and we can continue to build and add safeguards and reduce emissions over the next five to 10 years.”
Mr Lambie’s remarks are as workers, and the Greens are still scratching their heads about banning new coal and gas projects.
The dispute between the Labor Party and the Green Party
For Labor to push a safeguard mechanism through parliament, it needs the support of the Greens and some independent senators in the Senate, as the coalition said it would oppose the legislation.
In February, the Greens said they wanted the Labor government to commit to halting all new coal and gas projects in Australia in exchange for its support.
The Green Party said the proposal was a proposal and not an “ultimatum”, but hoped the government would adjust its position in order to pass it through the Senate.
But Labor confirmed its position not to ban new coal and gas projects, leading to a deadlock between the two sides.
Independent Senator David Pocock Joins Green Party
Meanwhile, independent Senator David Pocock, representing the Australian Capital Territory, joined the Greens to push for a blanket ban on new coal and gas projects, increasing pressure on the Labor government.
This was after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) announced. new report About climate change on March 21st.
Pocock was concerned about provisions in a safeguard mechanism that would allow the 215 largest emitters to trade carbon credits if they fail to meet their CO2 reduction quotas.
“We are essentially allowing the industrial sector to offset emissions in the land sector.” he said ABC radio.
“Apart from Kazakhstan, no other country does this.We want to encourage real emissions reductions rather than allowing fossil fuel companies to use offsets and simply pay for pollution. It’s something I really want to deal with.”
Pointing to the ICCP report, the Senator said Australia has a moral obligation to ensure that safeguard mechanisms deliver emissions reductions.
“I see it as very clear, scientifically, that we cannot start new fossil fuel projects and follow the path to a livable future,” he said.
In addition, Pocock opposed the idea that Australia would need new coal and gas projects during its transition to renewable energy, saying the country has an abundance of existing gas and coal.
“We export three-quarters of it. We also charged international prices for our own gas. It’s a political failure,” he said.
“I want to argue that the solution is not more gas. It is electrification, which helps free homes from very expensive energy sources.”
The senator said he wasn’t sure if the bill would be able to pass Congress this week, but said it would be healthy to hold negotiations so parties could come up with mechanisms to steer them in the right direction.
Victoria Kelly-Clark contributed to this article.
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