A future Coalition Government will stop Australia’s resources industry being ruined by activists, who are doing everything possible to shut down Australian mining and prosperity.
The Liberals and Nationals will be introducing the Australian Resources Exports and Jobs Protection Bill, ensuring coal, gas and other resource projects cannot be stopped on the basis of emissions occurring overseas.
It comes after the High Court dismissed MACH Energy’s appeal to expand the New South Wales Mount Pleasant coal mine, on the basis that authorities failed to properly consider the impact of emissions by its customers overseas.
Leader of the Opposition Angus Taylor said the Coalition would introduce legislation to stop thousands of mining jobs and Australia’s standing as a reliable energy exporter being put at risk.
“A future Coalition Government will ensure no Australian government can use Scope 3 emissions from Australian exports being used overseas to delay or block approval of a resources project,” Mr Taylor said.
“It is madness that local planning authorities must now consider the climate impacts of resources used in other countries before approving a mine in New South Wales.
“If Australia cannot export our resources, our partners will simply look elsewhere, while thousands of jobs will be lost as a result and our prosperity as a nation suffers another hit.
“We will introduce new legislation so that state governments cannot refuse projects on the basis of Scope 3 emissions occurring overseas as a reason to assess, block, delay, restrict or impose new conditions on federally approved projects.”
The Bill will establish a clear national principle that Australian resource projects should be assessed on the environmental impacts of producing resources in Australia, not on emissions generated when Australian exports are subsequently used in other countries.
Leader of The Nationals Matt Canavan said it was mind boggling that Australian projects could now be stopped based on emissions overseas.
“As part of the Liberal and Nationals plan to scrap net zero, we will stop Australian jobs and resources projects being held hostage by radical green activists who are enabled by Labor governments,” Senator Canavan said.
“Shutting down our mining projects will not lower the global temperature, but it will stop us from building more roads, more hospitals and more schools.
“We will not let activists destroy Australia with their ideology that makes not one degree of difference.
“We will ensure Commonwealth, State and Territory laws cannot require overseas emissions from Australian resource exports to be considered in project assessment or approval.
“We will also ensure Commonwealth, State and Territory governments cannot refuse, delay, restrict or condition a project because of emissions produced overseas when the exported resource is used.”
Protection will apply during the State or Territory assessment and approval process, with normal State and Territory laws over local environmental impacts to be maintained.
Senator Canavan added the Coalition has also pledged to claw back federal funding for the Environmental Defender’s Office.
“The Liberals and Nationals will not only ensure net zero is dead – we will restore common sense and prosperity for our nation.”