Greens give crucial support to Labor’s climate bill for 43% emissions reduction by 2030

Adam Bandt has revealed the Greens will support Labor’s climate bill but signalled a further fight for a climate trigger to block new fossil fuel projects.

The bill for a 43% emissions reduction by 2030 is now set to pass parliament, with the Greens’ support in the lower house and its crucial 12 Senate votes.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said he was now “very confident” the bill would pass, and heaped pressure on the Coalition “to break with their rhetoric and actually come to the table” and approve the target for investment certainty.

At the National Press Club on Wednesday Bandt explained the Greens’ support, citing improvements to the bill including: that the target can be ratcheted up over time; the target has been “Dutton-proofed”, meaning it can’t go backwards; more accountability for the Climate Change Authority; and that government agencies will have to consider climate targets before funding new projects.

But Bandt said the government is “bringing a bucket of water to a house fire” and the target “could be wiped out by just one of the 114 new coal and gas projects in the government’s investment pipeline”.

“The fight begins now to get Labor to stop opening coal and gas mines.”

Bandt vowed to “comb the entire budget for any public money … going to coal and gas corporations and amend the budget to remove them”.

“We will push to ensure the safeguard mechanism … [stops] new coal and gas projects. We will push for a climate trigger in our environment laws.”

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Albanese told reporters in Canberra that Labor had agreed to amendments that were “consistent with the policy we took to the election”, but had not committed to the Greens to consider a climate trigger in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

Albanese also ruled out using the safeguards mechanism to block new fossil fuel projects.

Albanese welcomed the Greens’ decision “they are prepared to vote for the legislation” even though some of their amendments were not accepted.

The climate change minister, Chris Bowen, said it was “a good day for Australia”.

“A good day therefore the economy, a good day for the future,” he said. “The climate wars may not be over, but they are suddenly in retreat, under this government.”

In question time, Albanese said Labor was “another step closer to delivering our mandate”, deflecting Coalition attacks about power prices by accusing them of “opposition to the cheapest form of energy, renewables” and support for “the most expensive solutions – nuclear power”.

Earlier, Bandt claimed that Labor’s position on new coal and gas projects was “untenable ultimately”, citing ambition for greater action from Australia’s “closest security allies” including the US and Pacific nations.

“This is round one. There is three years of this parliament and there are a number of points coming up where we will push to stop opening coal and gas.”

Bandt cited the review of the EPBC Act, which he said “needs a climate trigger”. “An environment law that allows projects to go ahead, even if it makes climate change worse and destroys the environment is an environment law with a massive hole in the middle of it.”

The crossbench believes it has secured government agreement for a range of other amendments including: an objects clause in the legislation, a statutory review in five years of the Act’s effectiveness, and clearer reporting obligations for the minister and Climate Change Authority.

Bowen said the government had “good conversations across the parliament with people of goodwill” and accepted changes that “improve the bill” and implement Labor’s mandate.

Others had “completely ruled themselves out of any discussions with the government”, he said.

On Tuesday the Coalition resolved to oppose the bill, reasoning that Labor had already increased Australia’s emission reduction obligations under the Paris agreement, and the opposition parties could determine a new target closer to the next election.

Independent MPs including Sophie Scamps, Kylea Tink, Kate Chaney and Allegra Spender have voiced support for the bill – but it will be the Jacqui Lambie Network and David Pocock’s votes in the Senate Labor will need to pass it.

On Wednesday the independent MP for Fowler, Dai Le, indicated she would abstain in the climate bill vote.