His move targets Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek,who has veto powers to block coal,gas and other major development approvals,and is a senior member of Labor’s Left faction,which has rank-and-file members campaigning to end fossil fuel developments.
But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has already rejected any moratorium on new coal and gas plants as disastrous for the economy. Plibersek has already approved three new coal mines in two months.
In May,when the environment minister approved Bowen Coking Coal’s relatively small Isaac River project in central Queensland,she said there were no grounds to reject the company’s development application,which must be considered on a case-by-case basis and not for its cumulative contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.
She has alsovetoed several new projects including Clive Palmer’s project in the Great Barrier Reef catchment,which she said risked irreversible damage as it was fewer than 10 kilometres from the World Heritage Site.
Pocock said he was introducing his bill because “we have a moral duty to young people and future generations and as elected representatives,as people who have input into policy. For the decision makers who are actually making these decisions,they have a duty of care to consider the impacts on young people and future generations.”