Greens unveil climate change attack plan to cut through McGowan’s popularity and save seats

A separate $2.5 billion fund to be spread out over a decade would support sectors like green steel and hydrogen and generate 55,000 new jobs according to the climate policy.

The party is also proposing gas and coal be phased out of WA but the costings behind the Greens policy will not be released until a later date.

Greens climate change and energy spokesman Tim Clifford said the government needed to get up to speed with its interstate neighbours by legislating energy targets.

“We have seen private industries looking to shift the way they do business and decarbonising,” he said.

“Having us there (in parliament) is actually echoing the sentiment of those industries and to be there to put those ideas forward … to make sure we reach 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030.

“The expectation is the government does more and we play a really key role so that the government is held to account with those targets.

“Even before COVID there has been a massive shift to a green future and putting money into renewable technologies to create thousands of jobs to make sure people are working in the industries of the future rather than industries of the past.”

Mr Clifford said a climate change council should be set-up to advise the government on how to reach the energy targets.

The Greens also want to see $60 million go towards the state’s cycling network and $50 million for the roll-out of the electric vehicle network which is more than double the Labor and Liberal promises for the sector and includes subsidies for West Australians who want to purchase an electric car.

The climate policy promises from the Greens are, for the most part, idealistic targets the party will promote to provide a comparison to the Labor government, which it thinks has failed to address the issue.

Labor popularity through COVID-19 response drives minor party uncertainty

Greens leader Alison Xamon raised concerns in October about the lack of checks and balances there could be if one party managed to get the numbers in both houses of parliament.

“Who knows what the outcome is going to be, but certainly what I do think is that it would be bad if one party were to have control of both houses in their own right,” she said.

“I think certainly without the Greens there would be no one there to drag the Labor party back to the left, if you like.”

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The Greens will be looking to hold onto its upper house seats in the north metropolitan, south west and east metropolitan districts.

The party also wants to pick up south metropolitan, where Fremantle mayor Brad Pettitt is running on the top of its ticket but faces a tough fight in the mining and pastoral region with the retirement of veteran politician Robin Chapple.

Labor currently relies on the Greens and members of the cross-bench to get through the majority of its bills but is eyeing off outright control with a strong showing at the March election.

Electric vehicle networks highlight major party environment policies

Labor released its long awaited state climate policy in November which re-affirmed its “aspirational” target for net zero emissions by 2050.

Environment Minister Stephen Dawson has said a net zero target would not be legislated in WA parliament.

“We don’t see the need for it to be honest, some jurisdictions around the world have legislated, others haven’t,” he said.

According to 2018 statistics, Western Australia and the Northern Territory recorded the only increases greenhouse gas emissions since 2005. WA’s emissions increased by 21 per cent in that time from 75.5 million tonnes of CO2 to 91.5 million tonnes.

Labor’s state climate policy also includes $100 million for a 100-megawatt battery, $21 million for an electric vehicle strategy, a $60 million green jobs plan and a $15 million carbon farming strategy.

So far the Liberals have thrown in an extra $3 million for its vision for an electric vehicle network rollout, $3 million for an electric and hydrogen commercial vehicle rebate and $10 million to create an office of future transport technology to sit within the Department of Transport.