Greens promise to force government to spend 1% of budget on environment if they hold balance of power
The Greens have promised to push the government to boost environment spending to $7.8bn – 1% of the federal budget – next financial year if they hold the balance of power after the election.
The minor party made the pledge as Labor faced calls to explain its nature policy after Anthony Albanese promised he would establish a federal environment protection agency (EPA) if re-elected. The prime minister said it would not be the 'same model' as one his government abandoned in this term of parliament after a backlash from Western Australia, but released no details.
The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, said Labor had broken a promise to protect the environment and Peter Dutton 'doesn't even pretend to care'. Bandt said his party's position was in line with expert calls for a large increase in spending on nature protection to prevent species going extinct and help halt a documented decline in environmental health across the country.
The Greens plan included $7.8bn funding in 2025-26 and an additional $17bn over the following three years. If delivered, the commitment would at least double government spending on nature, according to analysis by the Parliamentary Library.
The party said the commitments should be paid for by increasing taxes on 'big corporations and billionaires' – similarly to its other major platforms, such as adding dental to Medicare.
Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newsletter
Bandt said 'far more public money is spent subsidising [nature] destruction than protection' and the Greens were 'the only party with a comprehensive plan to address the biodiversity crisis'.
'In a minority parliament, the Greens will keep Peter Dutton out and get Labor to act to protect and restore our precious natural environment,' he said.
Australia has more than 2,200 native species and ecosystems listed as threatened with extinction. Scientists and conservationists have described it as a world leader in mammal extinction, and a global deforestation hotspot.
Labor promised to revamp the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act – which has been widely criticised as failing business and the environment – and create an EPA in this term, but neither commitment was delivered.
Last week it was accused of weakening nature laws after it joined with the Coalition to amend the EPBC Act to protect salmon farming in Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour. The amendment was welcomed by the salmon industry, unions and the Tasmanian Liberal state government.
Sign up to Afternoon Update: Election 2025
Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key election campaign stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters
after newsletter promotion
Albanese this week said a returned Labor government would consult the states and industry and conservation groups on new laws and a different EPA model. He said the final legislation would offer 'certainty for industry … but also provides for sustainability'.
The director of the Biodiversity Council, James Trezise, said the prime minister had not included any detail 'beyond a loose commitment to further consultation'. He said the point of an independent EPA was 'to deal with the influence of vested interests in decision making', but that this seemed a 'moot point' as vested interests 'appear to have the ear of the PM, whether it's around salmon farming in Tasmania or the design of a new environmental regulator'.
Trezise said Labor should again back the recommendations of a review of the EPBC Act led by the former competition and consumer watchdog Graeme Samuel, particularly his call for the establishment of national environmental standards against which development proposals could be measured.
Trezise said while Labor was yet to provide detail of what it would do, the Coalition had 'so far presented no clear plan for the law reform or the environment, beyond slashing the public service in Canberra'.
The Greens environmental policy wishlist includes reforming nature laws, banning native logging, spending $20bn on biodiversity restoration over the next decade and dedicating $5bn over four years to a new 'protected areas fund'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
8 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Landlords threaten to walk away from 5G connectivity scheme
Private and public landowners warn they have already lost out on around £200 million each year following significant changes made in 2017. Changes to the Electronic Communications Code meant telecoms firms were no longer required to pay market rent to landlords, with some landowners witnessing a 90% reduction in annual fees. It affects landowners including farmers, but also affects councils, charities and small businesses. In some cases rents originally agreed at around £5,500 per year fell to £3.50 per year, with landowners also stating they feel trapped in the agreement. The UK Government is consulting on changes to the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) Act that could see landowners refuse to allow the equipment on their property and therefore slowing down key connectivity targets. Russell Glendinning, managing director of Cell:cm Chartered Surveyors, a firm representing landowners of telecommunications infrastructure , said the implications would be "chilling". Read more: Mr Glendinning told The Herald on Sunday: "Scotland's digital rollout is being undermined by a failed UK-wide legal framework. "Changes to the 2017 Electronic Communications Code has significantly strained the relationship between landowners and mobile operators. "Many site providers have been drawn into lengthy and complex disputes in an attempt to protect operational requirements at their property against operators' technical and operational needs, often coupled with steeply reduced rents - and in some cases, site owners have even been ordered to repay substantial sums. "This has created a chilling effect on the willingness of both private and public landowners to host infrastructure." Landowners have urged the UK Government to rethink the legislation and listen to industry voices. Read more: The National Farming Union (NFU) and the British Property Federation (BPF) has since written to the government, warning that if action is not taken, landowners will walk away and 5G ambitions will be missed, while Scotland's 'fragile' connectivity will deteriorate further. Underserved parts of Scotland, like the Highlands and Islands and Argyll and Bute are particularly at risk. However, official statistics also revealed that Glasgow is now amongst the UK's worst five cities for fibre coverage. While the city is Scotland's largest urban hub, just 57.8% of premises have access to full fibre broadband. The ongoing row between landowners and telecoms firms has also stalled the UK rollout of 5G, with the UK now ranked 30th out of 39 countries for availability. Legal disputes have also skyrocketed since the 2017 changes, reaching 1,000 compared to just 33 tribunal cases between 1984 and 2017. Landowners can challenge the rent cost once the lease comes up for renewal, however the tribunal stage can be costly and off putting. Mr Glendinning added: 'Understandably, many now view the process as high-risk and low-reward, which has led to real difficulties in securing new sites. That, in turn, has had a catastrophic impact on mobile connectivity – particularly in rural areas and increasingly in urban settings too. 'The PSTI Act doubles down on this framework and there is a serious risk that the dysfunction we've already seen will only escalate. 'In cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh, where the pressures on property and infrastructure are already more acute, the burden placed on landlord is often far greater – and without meaningful reform, it's hard to see how the necessary collaboration can be restored.' A DSIT spokesperson said: 'Our priority is to continue delivering high quality 5G networks across the UK, which is critical to boosting growth and improving public services for the British people.'
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Shocking photo emerges of former Greens candidate who faces losing her sight after being injured during a violent arrest at an anti-Israel protest
The former Greens candidate who is at risk of losing vision in her right eye after suffering facial injuries at an anti-Israel rally has undergone surgery. Hannah Thomas, who challenged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the seat of Grayndler at the last election, is in a stable condition in hospital after Saturday's procedure. On Friday, in south-west Sydney, she and about 50 others were protesting outside Lakemba business, SEC Plating, which the Greens have accused of supplying materials used by the Israeli military. The NSW Greens claimed the business was involved in the supply chain to make Israeli fighter jets. Police issued a move-on direction to the group at about 5.35am on Friday to disrupt the alleged unauthorised protest. Ms Thomas allegedly refused to comply with the order and sustained facial injuries when she was arrested before being taken to Bankstown Hospital for treatment. A new photo of Ms Thomas on Saturday showed the severity of her injuries, with her entire right eye closed, swollen and bloody, while she sat in the back of an ambulance. The right side of her face was also covered in blood while her eye was black. NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson wrote to NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb and Police Minister Yasmin Catley to complain about the actions of the officers at the rally. 'I am writing to you to express my deep concern that no critical incident has been declared following the (alleged) assault by NSW Police against a community member at a public assembly in Belmore,' Ms Higginson wrote. 'As you know, a critical incident is an incident involving a NSW police officer that results in the death or serious injury of a person. 'Having witnessed the grievous injuries (allegedly) caused by the police to Hannah Thomas, spoken to on ground witnesses who witnessed what occurred and with the knowledge that Hannah has experienced serious injuries and hospitalisation, I am calling for a critical incident to be declared urgently.' Four others were arrested and charged during the protest, including a 24-year-old man who was allegedly found in possession of a stolen police body-worn camera. Police said the camera was stolen by an unknown protester during a scuffle and was tracked to the 24-year-old's location. It is not clear exactly what caused Ms Thomas' injuries but doctors are reportedly fearing she may not regain sight in her right eye. The Greens meanwhile have said they have spoken with lawyers to potentially represent Ms Thomas and the other protesters who were arrested during the incident. Ms Thomas has attended anti-Israel protests in the past, having called on Australia to impose sanctions on Israel, whose government she accused of genocide. She was among dozens of demonstrators who descended on Albanese's electorate office to demand action after Greta Thunberg's 'Freedom Flotilla' was seized by Israeli defence forces earlier this month. A spokesperson for NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia Ms Thomas had not been charged following the incident. 'She sustained facial injuries while being arrested for allegedly failing to comply with a police direction and the arrest was discontinued and (she) was taken to Bankstown hospital for treatment,' they said.
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Glasgow Times
SNP and Labour can't be anti-Reform choice; Scottish Greens can
Any SNP leader would struggle to make them credible as an anti-Reform option. They have been the party of government for the best part of two decades. The anger people feel about the decline in public services is squarely on them. But Mr Swinney's bland managerialism just adds to their problems. Patrick Harvie was absolutely right to call this out recently at his last ever FMQs as co-leader of the Scottish Greens. Since taking charge, John Swinney has watered down rent controls, stopped legislation to help get homes off expensive fossil fuels, abandoned human rights and equality laws, and ditched environmental action such as creating a new national park. Fighting Reform demands action, not inaction. Labour is no better, though. Despite having the keys to power in Westminster for a lot less time, Labour can't shake the self-inflicted harm of welfare cuts, winter fuel, and keeping the two-child cap that is driving their slump in the polls. Even more limiting in them being seen as an anti-Reform option is their penchant for lapping up Reform talking points. It is a fundamental error to think you can beat the far right by copying the far right. Reform's politics are poisonous and divisive and must be opposed head-on. Greens are ready and able to do this. We know that the millionaires behind Reform are not on the side of working people. We know the solutions they are selling are nothing but snake oil, scapegoating migrants for our problems when the real threat is those who are hoarding vast wealth. We know that the enemy of the people arrives by private jet, not by dinghy. Greens can also demonstrate a deep connection to communities when there is widespread distrust in the political establishment. In the last council elections in Glasgow, Green votes went up everywhere, but they went up the most where there already was a Green councillor. When people have a Green representative, they want to keep them. In contrast, Reform councillors just don't seem up to the job. This week, I called out Cllr Thomas Kerr. He defected to Reform in January but hasn't said a peep in Council meetings since. He's not asked a question on behalf of his constituents or spoken up in important debates, and he sat on his hands during the budget in February. All while taking a wage out of taxpayers' pockets. He has more time for the TV cameras than he does for his constituents. That's not good enough. As a party, the Greens have work to do. We are selecting our Holyrood candidates and that is a chance for us to present a fresh face to voters. We can also learn from others on the left who are sharpening how they communicate and connect on issues that matter. But it is increasingly obvious that the only credible anti-Reform option in Scotland is the Scottish Greens. Join us.
