The demand is based on a list of 114 resources projects that could be stopped by federal authorities,including the Otway gas plant in western Victoria,the Narrabri coal seam gas field in northern NSW and metallurgical coal mines in the NSW Southern Highlands.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese has ruled out a deal with the Greens on climate if he becomes prime minister. Labor’s climate spokesman Chris Bowen has argued that stronger climate targets would not need to go to Parliament if the Greens refused to support them.
Loading
The stance from the Greens does not say how a Labor government would prevent every project going ahead when some of them are already part of the way through the approval process with environmental agencies that are meant to make decisions independent of politicians.
A blanket ban raises the prospect of significant legal action against a federal government that delays or postpones decisions under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act,the main trigger to reject or approve major projects.
“Australia needs to stop opening up new coal and gas mines,” Greens leader Adam Bandt said on Sunday.
“We want a pause on coal and gas while talking. It’s a pretty reasonable position. It’s not even about existing coal and gas projects,we’re just saying don’t open up new ones.