The Greens have accused Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek of taking out the trash after she approved yet another massive fossil fuel project overnight. Labor approved the Santos gas pipeline project at 5:15pm on the eve of Easter, at the end of a Parliamentary sitting week where debate over stopping new gas approvals raged.
Key Points:
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Approval was granted at 5:15pm on Wednesday 27 March
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Santos' Barossa Gas Project in the NT is one of the dirtiest in Australia
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There are around 116 new coal and gas projects in the pipeline
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Greens call on Labor to put a Climate Trigger in environment law, asses projects for their climate impact
Adam Bandt is Leader of the Australian Greens:
"Gas is as dirty as coal, but Labor wants more," Mr Bandt said.
"Labor are climate con-artists, approving more coal and gas projects and hiding from Parliamentary scrutiny.
"Tanya Plibersek has lost all climate credibility.
"Tanya Plibersek hid this dirty approval until Parliament adjourned for over a month, a sneaky attempt at secrecy from a government that knows it's doing the wrong thing. While Labor was hiding this approval, they were working to fast track gas through a dodgy bill that silences First Nations voices.
"Labor must stop opening new coal and gas and making the climate crisis worse."
Senator Dorinda Cox, Greens Spokesperson for First Nations, Resources, Trade, Tourism and Northern Australia, and Yamatji Noongar Woman:
"Minister Plibersek's approval of the Barossa pipeline is another disappointing move by this Albanese Labor Government to silence the voices of First Nations people and their connections to Sea Country.
"These are the very cabinet Ministers who campaigned for a voice to parliament, and are now speaking out of both sides of their mouths.
"This is just outright dishonest and disrespectful with this Government who continue to put Santos before us as Traditional Owners."
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is Environment Spokesperson and Manager of Business in the Senate:
"The Minister has given approval without any consideration of the pollution and damage this will have on the climate. This is why we need a climate trigger in Australia's environment laws.
"Approving this on the eve of Easter at 5:15pm is a blatant exercise in putting out the trash. Labor needs to stop talking out both sides of their mouth and back a climate trigger in our environment law.
"The Environment Minister's job should be protecting our environment and the coastline Australians love, not green-lighting pollution."
