Penalty Rates decision shows labour laws broken and parliament must now override cuts: Bandt 

Our labour laws are broken if they allow cuts to the wages of low paid workers and Parliament must now step in and back the Greens' move to override cuts to penalty rates, Greens workplace relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP said today. 

Unions have lost their legal bid to overturn the Fair Work Commission's decision to cut penalty rates for hospitality, retail and fast-food workers.

Abbott a dangerous fool who still runs the show: Bandt

Greens climate change and energy spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today said that Tony Abbott is a dangerous fool who could be simply ignored were it not for his ability to dictate Malcolm Turnbull's climate policy.

“Tony Abbott is a dangerous fool who could simply be ignored were it not for his power to write Malcolm Turnbull's climate policy,” said Mr Bandt.

“In ditching a clean energy target, Malcolm Turnbull is now publicly cowering before his new master, Tony Abbott.

Waxing lyrical about cheap renewables isn’t a national plan: Bandt

Greens climate change and energy spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today slammed speculation that the Turnbull government is backing away from the Clean Energy Target, saying that while the cost of renewables is falling, a coherent national policy is essential to rapidly drive the transition away from coal. Mr Bandt also said Labor’s failure to plan for coal closure would hobble the energy transition.

The Australian Greens have announced a new policy for a 20 GW national energy storage target and incentives for households and business to invest in energy storage. 

The policy was launched in Adelaide by Deputy Leader and spokesperson on climate and energy, Adam Bandt MP and Senator for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young.

The Greens would put in place a legislated target of 20 GW of multi-hour storage by 2030, with annual milestones across the National Electricity Market and WA and NT networks.

Greens call for Royal Commission into Underpayment of Penalty Rates and Other Wage Theft

Following the release of a Senate Inquiry into penalty rates, Greens spokesperson for industrial relations Adam Bandt MP today announced that the Greens are calling for a Royal Commission to fully investigate the extent of wage theft and below-award payment in Australia.

It's becoming apparent that failings in our industrial laws have allowed some of Australia's biggest companies to pay workers at below award rates," said Mr Bandt. 

Liddell out, renewables in: Bandt

Greens climate change and energy spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today said that AGL’s proposed solution to replace Liddell’s energy demonstrates, beyond doubt, that there’s no reason for Liddell to stay open.

“Liddell is a decrepit old clunker and Malcolm Turnbull should let it quit coal in 2022,” said Mr Bandt.

“AGL’s plan shows that the only way Liddell is staying open is if Malcolm Turnbull uses public money to bankroll aging technology.

Greens open to Garnaut energy plan: Bandt

Australian Greens climate and energy spokesperson said the Greens were open to considering Ross Garnaut’s alternative energy plan if it was linked with the reregulation of power prices.

“Ross Garnaut is correct when he says that we need strong climate targets to meet our Paris promises,” said Mr Bandt.

“If strong targets were legislated and the retail electricity sector reregulated, we could bring down pollution as well as prices.

Paris Agreement targets now out of reach: Bandt

Greens climate change and energy spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today said that if Tony Abbott continues to dictate energy policy in this country and coal is included in a revised 'clean' energy target, we won’t even meet the paltry targets Australia agreed to in Paris.

"Malcolm Turnbull's capitulation to Tony Abbott over the clean energy target means even our paltry Paris commitments are now out of reach,” said Mr Bandt.

Greens climate change and energy spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today said that Malcolm Turnbull is acting like a toddler throwing a tantrum, indulged by AGL until he calms down and lets them get on with what they were going to do anyway.

“Faced with Malcolm Turnbull lying screaming on the floor like a toddler insisting they’re Batman, AGL says “yes, yes you’re Batman” just so they can get everyone out the door and get on with the day,” said Mr Bandt.

Greens policy for electricity price reregulation proves popular as ALP & LNP join to oppose it: Bandt

Greens climate and energy spokesperson Adam Bandt MP has welcomed poll results published today showing 86% of voters support the Greens' policy to regulate power prices. 

He also criticised Labor and Liberal for today opposing moves in the Senate to reregulate power prices, even though Labor in Victoria and NSW appear to be moving towards reregulating power prices.