Blocking new coal, gas projects key demand in minority government negotiations, Greens say
The Greens will demand Labor block any new coal or gas projects if Anthony Albanese is forced into power-sharing negotiations after next week's federal election, the minor party says.
If Labor falls short of the 76 seats needed to govern in majority, it would need to look to the crossbench to form government.
The Greens have hounded the Albanese government for greenlighting dozens of new coal mines and gas wells over its first term, and will on Monday use Parliamentary Library analysis to claim Climate Minister Chris Bowen could block new projects under existing laws.
'In the middle of a climate crisis, Tanya Plibersek has approved new coal mines that will release 2.5 billion tonnes of climate pollution,' Greens leader Adam Bandt said in a statement.
'If the Environment Minister won't act, the Greens will get the Climate Minister to do it.
'The Greens will keep Dutton out and get Labor to stop approving new coal and gas mines, because you can't put the fire out while pouring petrol on it.'
According to the Parliamentary Library, Mr Bowen may be able to restrict projects under the Safeguard Mechanism, which requires polluters to limit emissions to the national targets of 43 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 and net zero by 2050.
The Parliamentary Library acknowledged the 'area of law is complex' and warned its brief 'may not be fully comprehensive'.
Though, Mr Bandt was confident, saying that through Safeguard Mechanism negotiations, the Greens 'gave the Climate Minister the power to stop new coal and gas mines with the stroke of a pen, and with more Greens in minority Parliament we'll get him to use it'.
'They talk up renewables but open up coal and gas. Labor are climate charlatans and the Liberals climate criminals,' he said.
'If you're worried about climate change, you can't keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result.
'If you want climate action, you have to vote for it, because it's clear Labor won't act on climate unless pushed.'
The Greens have flagged four other key demands, including expanding Medicare to cover dental health, negative gearing and capital gains tax reform, ending logging in native forests, and free universal early childhood education.
The Prime Minister has ruled out negotiating with the Greens to secure a minority government, but his pathways would be limited, based on the current make up of the House and Senate.
Mr Albanese has also flatly rejected any changes to negative gearing, which housing reformists have identified as a major hurdle for first home buyers.
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"We in Australia understand that in today's uncertain world, what we need are partners and friends we can rely on." During the meeting, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Vuvale Partnership, which emphasises both countries' shared goal of regional peace, security and prosperity. The prime ministers began preparations for the Pacific Islands Forum leaders' meeting, to be hosted in the Solomon Islands in September, which is expected to enhance co-operation within the region. While Mr Albanese's Pacific visit is expected to play second fiddle to a potential meeting with US President Donald Trump in coming days, regional issues such as security remain a key focus for Australia. The environment and climate change were also discussion points in Fiji as Australia bids to co-host the United Nations' climate conference with Pacific partners in 2026. "Fiji is one of the most important relationships for Australia in the Pacific Islands region," Lowy Institute Pacific Islands program director Mihai Sora told AAP. The nation had been able to delineate its security relationships with traditional partners such as the US, Australia and New Zealand while also protecting and promoting trade and economic ties with China and other parts of Asia, Mr Sora said. Mr Albanese was welcomed by a delegation and local marching band, which made him feel at home with a rendition of Advance Australia Fair, before attending a meeting and dinner with Fijian officials. However, the centrepiece of Mr Albanese's whirlwind trip will be the G7 summit, a gathering of seven of the world's largest advanced economies. Australia is not a member of the G7, but Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney invited Mr Albanese. He is expected to meet with the US president on the sidelines of the conference, where he could try to carve out a tariff exemption. Australia faces 10 per cent tariffs on goods exported to the US and - like every US trading partner except the UK - has been hit with 50 per cent tariffs on aluminium and steel sent to America. The Australian government has called the trade measures an "act of economic self-harm" and is considering using critical minerals and US beef imports as bargaining chips. Mr Albanese has not yet confirmed whether he will meet Mr Trump, although other bilateral discussions have been organised with the leaders of Canada, the UK, South Korea and Japan. The prime minister is also expected to meet with business leaders in Seattle en route to the G7 to discuss emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. The prime minister has stressed the importance of "trusted partners" in an uncertain world as major diplomatic talks loom. Sporting a teal and white island shirt, Anthony Albanese met with his Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka in Nadi on his first stop of a global tour. The meeting was their first since Labor's decisive re-election and Mr Albanese said the timing showed both nations were part of a "Pacific family". "You, my friend, are a trusted partner and friend of Australia," Mr Albanese told Mr Rabuka ahead of bilateral discussions. "We in Australia understand that in today's uncertain world, what we need are partners and friends we can rely on." During the meeting, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Vuvale Partnership, which emphasises both countries' shared goal of regional peace, security and prosperity. The prime ministers began preparations for the Pacific Islands Forum leaders' meeting, to be hosted in the Solomon Islands in September, which is expected to enhance co-operation within the region. While Mr Albanese's Pacific visit is expected to play second fiddle to a potential meeting with US President Donald Trump in coming days, regional issues such as security remain a key focus for Australia. The environment and climate change were also discussion points in Fiji as Australia bids to co-host the United Nations' climate conference with Pacific partners in 2026. "Fiji is one of the most important relationships for Australia in the Pacific Islands region," Lowy Institute Pacific Islands program director Mihai Sora told AAP. The nation had been able to delineate its security relationships with traditional partners such as the US, Australia and New Zealand while also protecting and promoting trade and economic ties with China and other parts of Asia, Mr Sora said. Mr Albanese was welcomed by a delegation and local marching band, which made him feel at home with a rendition of Advance Australia Fair, before attending a meeting and dinner with Fijian officials. However, the centrepiece of Mr Albanese's whirlwind trip will be the G7 summit, a gathering of seven of the world's largest advanced economies. 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The prime minister has stressed the importance of "trusted partners" in an uncertain world as major diplomatic talks loom. Sporting a teal and white island shirt, Anthony Albanese met with his Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka in Nadi on his first stop of a global tour. The meeting was their first since Labor's decisive re-election and Mr Albanese said the timing showed both nations were part of a "Pacific family". "You, my friend, are a trusted partner and friend of Australia," Mr Albanese told Mr Rabuka ahead of bilateral discussions. "We in Australia understand that in today's uncertain world, what we need are partners and friends we can rely on." During the meeting, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Vuvale Partnership, which emphasises both countries' shared goal of regional peace, security and prosperity. 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"Recent suggestions that Trump is turning away from a close friendship with Netanyahu is further eroding Netanyahu's popularity. "By attacking Iran, Netanyahu hopes to reinforce the fear of an external threat to Israel - and support for his government as competent and tough on security." The Iranian regime has been greatly weakened by domestic unrest, economic sanctions and the dismantling by Israel of proxy forces in the region - including Hamas, Hezbollah and Iranian supply routes in Syria. But not responding to the attack would undermine the regime's legitimacy, Dr Genauer said. "So, we can expect Iran to respond ... with drone and missile attacks against Israel," she said. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned of "severe punishment" for Israel, accusing it of revealing "its malicious nature even more than before by targeting residential areas", in a post on X. 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Iran halted flights at Imam Khomeini International Airport outside of Tehran, the country's main airport, Iranian state TV said. Tensions had been building in the region as US efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Iran appeared to be deadlocked. US intelligence previously indicated Israel was preparing for a strike against Iran's nuclear facilities, as part of ongoing efforts to stop Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. US President Donald Trump on Thursday warned there was a "chance of massive conflict" involving Iran as Washington began pulling out diplomats from the Middle East. Jessica Genauer, senior lecturer in international relations at Flinders University, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to attack Iran was likely driven by domestic concerns. "Netanyahu faces political dissatisfaction with his handling of the Hamas-Israel war," she said. "Recent suggestions that Trump is turning away from a close friendship with Netanyahu is further eroding Netanyahu's popularity. "By attacking Iran, Netanyahu hopes to reinforce the fear of an external threat to Israel - and support for his government as competent and tough on security." The Iranian regime has been greatly weakened by domestic unrest, economic sanctions and the dismantling by Israel of proxy forces in the region - including Hamas, Hezbollah and Iranian supply routes in Syria. But not responding to the attack would undermine the regime's legitimacy, Dr Genauer said. "So, we can expect Iran to respond ... with drone and missile attacks against Israel," she said. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned of "severe punishment" for Israel, accusing it of revealing "its malicious nature even more than before by targeting residential areas", in a post on X. Israel's ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon said the "pre-emptive" strike was necessary to neuter Iran's nuclear program. "A nuclear-armed Iran poses an existential threat to the State of Israel and a grave danger to regional and global stability," he said in a statement. Meanwhile, Senator Wong announced Australia would provide an extra $10 million to help with the distribution of urgent medical and food supplies to Gaza. "The situation for the people of Gaza is catastrophic," she said. "Civilians killed by the thousands, people starving, children going without food and medical supplies, schools, hospitals and homes destroyed." Australia has contributed more than $110 million in humanitarian assistance for civilians affected by conflict in Gaza and Lebanon since Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel in 2023. Australia is calling for urgent talks amid escalating conflict in the Middle East as Israel and Iran trade strikes. Iran has retaliated with drone attacks after Israel struck nuclear and military targets in the Iranian capital Tehran. Israel hit dozens of sites on Friday as tensions soared after a United Nations agency found Iran was not complying with its nuclear non-proliferation obligations. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said any escalation in the region was concerning. "We, of course, are very conscious of the threat that Iran becoming a nuclear state would represent to peace and security in the region as well," he told reporters in Fiji. "We want to see these issues resolved through dialogue and the United States have been playing an important role there." Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the conflict risked further destabilising a volatile region. "We call on all parties to refrain from actions and rhetoric that ... would further exacerbate tensions," she said. The federal government's Smartraveller website was updated on Friday with a "do not travel" warning for Iran. Iran halted flights at Imam Khomeini International Airport outside of Tehran, the country's main airport, Iranian state TV said. Tensions had been building in the region as US efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Iran appeared to be deadlocked. US intelligence previously indicated Israel was preparing for a strike against Iran's nuclear facilities, as part of ongoing efforts to stop Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. US President Donald Trump on Thursday warned there was a "chance of massive conflict" involving Iran as Washington began pulling out diplomats from the Middle East. Jessica Genauer, senior lecturer in international relations at Flinders University, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to attack Iran was likely driven by domestic concerns. "Netanyahu faces political dissatisfaction with his handling of the Hamas-Israel war," she said. "Recent suggestions that Trump is turning away from a close friendship with Netanyahu is further eroding Netanyahu's popularity. "By attacking Iran, Netanyahu hopes to reinforce the fear of an external threat to Israel - and support for his government as competent and tough on security." The Iranian regime has been greatly weakened by domestic unrest, economic sanctions and the dismantling by Israel of proxy forces in the region - including Hamas, Hezbollah and Iranian supply routes in Syria. But not responding to the attack would undermine the regime's legitimacy, Dr Genauer said. "So, we can expect Iran to respond ... with drone and missile attacks against Israel," she said. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned of "severe punishment" for Israel, accusing it of revealing "its malicious nature even more than before by targeting residential areas", in a post on X. Israel's ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon said the "pre-emptive" strike was necessary to neuter Iran's nuclear program. "A nuclear-armed Iran poses an existential threat to the State of Israel and a grave danger to regional and global stability," he said in a statement. Meanwhile, Senator Wong announced Australia would provide an extra $10 million to help with the distribution of urgent medical and food supplies to Gaza. "The situation for the people of Gaza is catastrophic," she said. "Civilians killed by the thousands, people starving, children going without food and medical supplies, schools, hospitals and homes destroyed." Australia has contributed more than $110 million in humanitarian assistance for civilians affected by conflict in Gaza and Lebanon since Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel in 2023.
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3 hours ago
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