Flawed climate review should be made independent; Labor must rule out Adani support: Bandt
Greens Climate Change and Energy spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today said the government's proposed climate review risks being a 'Claytons’ review and called on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Energy and Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg to make the review independent. Mr Bandt also called on Bill Shorten to oppose any Commonwealth funding of a giant new coal mine in Queensland’s Galilee basin, as the Prime Minister meets with the owner of the mine and head of Adani today.
"On the same day the government outlines a climate review that won't extend the Renewable Energy Target or put a price on pollution, Malcolm Turnbull is lighting the fuse of a ticking carbon bomb by backing the giant Adani coal mine,” Mr Bandt said.
“Malcolm Turnbull and his government are about to spend a billion dollars on a project that will kill people, kill jobs and kill the reef.”
“Instead of meeting with the man who wants to build Australia’s biggest coal mine and backing his projects, the Prime Minister should be telling his Energy Minister to make the climate review independent.”
“The announced climate review risks being a ‘Claytons’ review. The Department should not be responsible for reviewing its own policies.”
“The government’s planned review proves they are not serious about tackling dangerous global warming and are turning a blind eye to the commitments they made in Paris.”
“The government’s so-called ‘Direct Action’ fund is costing a lot of money without seriously cutting pollution. The Renewable Energy Target is doing the heavy lifting on cutting pollution, yet the review's terms of reference suggest the government will let this target die in 2020.”
“Malcolm Turnbull and Josh Frydenberg must commit to an independent review to allow a frank and fearless account of the real impact of their climate policies.”
"This is also a big climate test for Bill Shorten. Labor must commit to not providing any public funding to the Adani mine and the Galilee coal basin, including funding from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility.”
Media contact: Adam Pulford, 0429 109 054
TW: @AdamBandt FB: facebook.com/Adam.Bandt.MP