Tamara Smith MP, Greens Member for Ballina, has today criticised the state Labor government’ lack of ambition on the climate crisis, following the passage of the government’s Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill 2023. 

The Greens supported the Bill after they were able to secure amendments ensuring that the new government’s emissions reductions targets were in line with the former government’s targets. Initially, the Bill matched the former Coalition government’s targets of net zero by 2050 and 50% emissions reduction by 2030, but did not include the former government’s target of 70% by 2035. The 70% by 2035 target has now been restored.

Greens amendments were also able to make the net zero by 2050 target binding, meaning the Minister for Climate Change and the Premier now have a duty to act in accordance with a net zero target. The Greens were also able to ensure the proposed Net Zero Commission has the power to give advice on new coal and gas projects in New South Wales.

However, the government joined forces with the Liberal National Opposition to ensure that they would not be bound by 2030, 2035 and 2040 interim targets. Labor also joined with the Liberal Nationals to vote down Greens amendments seeking a net zero by 2035 target.

Smith, who represents several flood and fire-affected communities in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, has since announced the NSW Greens will move legislation in 2024 that would see a net zero by 2035 target enshrined in legislation.  

 

Quotes attributable to Tamara Smith MP, Member for Ballina:

 

I’m glad to see that the Greens have been able to secure important commitments from the Labor government in exchange for our passage of their Net Zero Bill. Thanks to the Greens, the government is now legally bound to a net zero target, and the NSW Net Zero Commission has the power to advise on the effects of new coal and gas projects.

The Greens were also able to force the NSW government to consider the needs of remote and regional communities when tackling the climate crisis, which is a significant victory for us here in the Northern Rivers.

Because of our amendments, the community has more ways than ever before to challenge the dozens of coal and gas projects that Labor governments are determined to approve. 

Unfortunately, this Bill is nowhere near where it needs to be. This legislation is putting a band-aid on a bullet hole that is the climate crisis.

Labor came to this debate wanting to decrease the ambition of our climate targets in New South Wales, advocating for a step backwards from where we were under the Liberals and Nationals. The Greens have been able to successfully pressure Labor into keeping our net zero targets and our interim targets the same as where they are now. Our flood and fire victims know that where we are now on climate is just not good enough.

There’s a reason Labor and the Liberal Nationals have the exact same lacklustre position on climate, and that’s because they both accept thousands of dollars from the same fossil fuel corporations who are fuelling the climate crisis in the first place.

Negotiating with the Labor Party is like negotiating with the political arm of the coal and gas industry, and the fact that the Greens have been able to secure such important amendments despite this is a testament to our community’s strong advocacy on climate.

We will keep pushing for the government to listen to the science on climate, and act with the urgency that our community is feeling here on the ground. The NSW Greens have already given notice of legislation that will secure a net zero by 2035 target, and I look forward to debating that legislation next year.

 

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