The Green Extreme
Not even Labor was going to vote for Adam Bandt’s amendments to the Government’s energy bill. But look who did. By Tim James
If any picture is worth a thousand words, then the photo of a particularly one-sided division in the House of Representatives this week is worth War and Peace.
The division was over the Australian Greens' amendments to the Government’s Treasury Laws Amendment (Prohibiting Energy Market Misconduct) Bill 2019, also known as the “big stick” energy laws.
On one side of the Parliament, led by Greens Adam Bandt, and voting in favour of his amendments, were independents Zali Steggall, Helen Haines and Andrew Wilkie. Note that the other two cross benchers Rebecca Sharkie and Bob Katter did not join them. So just four of 151 Members of the House of Representatives took on the Greens position.
On the other side of the Parliament, all Liberal, Nationals and Labor MPs voted together in opposition to the Greens' amendments. Yes, when Shadow Minister Mark Butler and his colleagues vote down amendments relating to energy policy you know it must be a seriously green-left position being put up.
It looks lonely when you side with the Greens but this is what Zali Steggall is doing.
The so called “big stick” energy laws are the government’s response to the findings of the ACCC when it independently found that there was unacceptable and unsustainable behaviour by companies in the energy market.
Energy Minister Angus Taylor has rightly championed these laws and stated they are essential to driving down energy prices. The rationale for them is well explained in this Australian article by the Minister.
The Bandt amendments, wholly supported by Steggall, would have, among other things, prevented a government or even a court from deciding, where necessary and appropriate, to maintain an existing energy supply facility. Any sensible Australian could see the danger in blindly binding all such decisions down the track given the complexity and uncertainty that characterises energy supply.
As the Minister said, the Greens want to see “no oil, no gas, no coal—and, frankly, in that world, no hope.” The Government is committed to and is acting upon emissions reductions but will not be lectured to by zealots.
During this year's election campaign, Steggall shared 80 per cent of the Greens' policy positions (which happened to align 100% with the GetUp policy positions in every instance). This was spelt out simply in this earlier Watercooler article.
There’s no doubt that climate change was an issue in Warringah. One of many. But Steggall’s zealotry on the issue knows no bounds. It’s as though no other issues matter for this new Member of Parliament.
Steggall and her office staff (she has seven) joined the climate strike in Sydney recently. By doing so, she supported the demands for no new coal, oil and gas projects, including the Adani mine, and 100 per cent renewable energy generation and exports by 2030.
So Steggall is for zero. Zero energy from fossil fuels in ten years. Zero exports of Australia’s largest export product - coal - in ten years.
Her recent community survey is heavily skewed to focus on climate change. Question 1: Which issues concern you the most? The first issue listed is climate change. Question 2: How would you like me to represent you? The first answer listed is to advocate for national climate change legislation. Question 3: The environment was a key issue at the election - which issues concern you? And so it goes on.
Steggall claims to reflect the zeitgeist. But she fails to recall who won the climate election. During the election it was Steggall and her side of politics that were adamant it was the #climateelection. Well, the outcome was very clear. As the MRC (together with Page Research Centre) confirmed in its polling, research and advocacy pre-election, Australians wanted to see reasonable and measured action on climate change, not to see either end of the spectrum dictating terms. And they voted accordingly.
Steggall is more focused on social media, stunts and zingers than practical, sensible action on climate change, with her constant support for school strikes, activist agendas, the campaign to stop Adani, petitions for a climate emergency, hashtags, calls for Warringah to be a mini-California and more.
Given all of the above, is it any wonder she is joining with the Greens on key votes in Parliament? It’s enough to make you tired of the new “independent” MP for Warringah already. And more than a little sceptical.