ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has quashed weeks of speculation about a strained relationship with Tanya Plibersek, confirming that the former Environment Minister is in fact a valued friend.
So much so that he ensured she was nowhere near the portfolio when Labor announced the planned expansion of Australia’s largest gas project.
The government this week gave environmental approval for Woodside’s North West Shelf gas facility to continue operating until 2070. The extension is projected to emit more than 4 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases. It was signed off by new Environment Minister Murray Watt, less than a fortnight after Plibersek was shifted to the social services portfolio in a cabinet reshuffle.
The Prime Minister has denied suggestions the timing was deliberate, stating that Plibersek is “a close colleague and an important part of the government.”
However, critics have noted that the approval would have sat awkwardly with Plibersek’s previous public positions on climate change and her stated desire to reform the EPBC Act.
“This is a textbook example of Albanese looking after a mate,” said one senior Canberra staffer.
“He’s protected her from having to sign off on a ‘carbon bomb’, while still getting it through without internal friction.”
Greens senators and climate groups have condemned the decision.
“This is political cowardice,” said one of them.
“They knew Tanya couldn’t approve this in good conscience, so they waited until she was out of the way. Murray doesn’t give a fuck. But I guess that the Greens getting booted from Parliament by the people of Australia gave him the mandate to do this.”
The move is expected to intensify scrutiny over Labor’s climate commitments, particularly ahead of COP31, which Australia is bidding to co-host for some reason.
More to come.
