Greens leader Adam Bandt has announced the party’s climate and energy plan, which proposes a levy on coal exports and funding for an expansion of clean energy exports to create new jobs.
Bandt said the party would put an end to new coal and gas mines and push to impose a $1 levy per tonne of thermal coal and $3 levy per tonne of metallurgical coal—a levy that would increase each year until existing mines were phased out.
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“People want to hear parties tackling the big issues like climate change, but Liberal and Labor are desperate not to talk about it and they back more coal and gas instead,” he said.
Under the Greens’ plan, thermal coal will be phased out by 2030, metallurgical coal by 2040, and a moratorium placed on new coal, oil and gas projects.
Bandt said the plan would see the creation of 805,000 new jobs over the next decade and would result in Australia reaching net zero emissions by 2035.
He also said the plan would see Australia produce negative emissions that would draw down pollution by over 100 million tonnes a year by 2050.
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The Greens have also pledged support for a $19 billion guarantee for coal workers, which would maintain their wages and employment for up to 10 years, and subsidise older workers to retirement age.
“Eighty per cent of the coal that mining billionaires dig up is exported overseas, just like their profits, but the Greens’ plan will ensure they help fund the transition and provide secure jobs and industries for Australia,” Bandt said.
