Greens climate change and energy spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today reacted to the Coalition's so-called 'shortlist' of underwriting projects that include coal, re-iterating his intention to stop the Commonwealth from using taxpayer dollars on coal-fired power.
"Any 'shortlist' that includes coal is a shortcut to worse droughts and more bushfires," said Mr Bandt.
"Spending taxpayer money on coal is like giving money from the health budget to a tobacco company.
"The government shouldn't be upgrading coal, it should be shutting it down.
"The Greens have legislation before Parliament that would stop this misuse of public money, as well as an amendment to the so-called 'big stick' legislation. It's clear that Parliament needs to save the government from their own madness on climate change.
"When Parliament resumes, we'll seek to stop the government pouring precious taxpayer dollars into coal when it should be going into schools and hospitals."
