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.

Turnbull’s coal plan will drown Pacific Islands: Bandt

Greens climate change and energy spokesperson, Adam Bandt, today said that Malcolm Turnbull’s coal plan will drown the Pacific Islands.

Mr Bandt said he doesn’t know how the Prime Minister will be able to look Pacific Island leaders in the eye, given that his plan to keep coal-fired power stations open will accelerate sea level rises that threaten to drown some Pacific nations.

“Malcolm Turnbull’s plan to keep coal plants running will help drown Pacific Island nations,” Mr Bandt said today.

AEMO report damns Turnbull; Liddell a stranded asset: Bandt  

Greens climate change and energy spokesperson Adam Bandt MP said the energy market operator reports released yesterday and today are a damning indictment of the government's war on renewables, reinforcing that more coal will hold back cheaper new generation and push up prices and pollution.

CSIRO needs to sever ties with Minerals Council: Bandt

The CSIRO must immediately cancel its paid membership of the Minerals Council, Australian Greens science and research spokesperson, Adam Bandt, said today. CSIRO should not be a member of a climate denying lobbyist group, Mr Bandt said.

The FOI requests made by the Australia Institute and released today show that the CSIRO pays at least $10,000 in Associate Membership fees to the Minerals Council of Australia.

Quotes attributable to Mr Bandt:

As Coalition chooses more coal, Labor must pick sides: Greens