AUSTRALIAN RESOURCES MUST SERVE AUSTRALIAN INTERESTS, NOT FOREIGN EMISSIONS TARGETS

Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator Susan McDonald, has backed a Coalition bill to prevent Commonwealth, State and Territory laws being used to block, delay or restrict Australian mining, oil and gas projects because of emissions generated when their products are used overseas.

The proposal follows Wednesday’s High Court decision concerning the Mount Pleasant coal mine expansion in New South Wales, which has raised serious concerns about the future of Australian resource investment and project approvals.

“Shockingly, Labor recently voted at the United Nations in support of a resolution welcoming an International Court of Justice opinion that opens the door to greater international liability for states over climate harm, including arguments concerning fossil-fuel production and overseas emissions,” said Senator McDonald.

“Australia is a sovereign nation with some of the world’s most valuable natural resources, and we must retain the right to develop and export those resources in our own national interest.

“Our coal, gas and minerals belong to Australians, and decisions about their development should be made in Australia, according to Australian laws and Australian interests.

“We cannot allow the future of Australian jobs, regional communities and our economic prosperity to be dictated by emissions generated in foreign countries over which we have absolutely no control.

“Australian resources should first and foremost serve Australians, not become hostage to the environmental policies and political decisions of other nations.”

The Coalition’s proposed legislation would prevent overseas downstream emissions, commonly known as Scope 3 emissions, from being used as grounds to refuse, delay, restrict or impose conditions on Australian resource projects.

Importantly, existing powers to regulate environmental impacts occurring within Australia would remain in place.

Senator McDonald said the proposal was consistent with the Paris Agreement, under which emissions are accounted for in the countries where they occur.

“If an Australian coal shipment is used to generate electricity in Japan, Korea or India, the resulting emissions are the responsibility of those countries, not Australian miners,” she said.

“That is how international emissions accounting works, and it is absurd that Australian projects can be put at risk because of decisions made by customers thousands of kilometres away.

“National sovereignty means having the freedom to use our natural advantages to build our prosperity, strengthen our industries and secure our future.

“We should be making it easier to invest in Australian resources, not creating new opportunities for activists to tie up projects in endless legal challenges.”

The proposed Bill could also remove requirements introduced by Labor and the Greens for Australian businesses to report Scope 3 emissions generated by their customers and suppliers, while retaining reporting obligations for emissions produced in Australia.

“Labor and the Greens want Australian businesses to spend time and money estimating emissions produced by customers overseas, even though those emissions are already accounted for in the countries where they occur,” she said.

“That is more red tape, more uncertainty and more expense for Australian businesses, with absolutely no guarantee of reducing global emissions.

“Every unnecessary obstacle to developing our resources makes Australia less competitive and risks sending investment, jobs and economic opportunities offshore.

“Australia cannot be economically independent or strategically secure if we surrender control of the industries that underpin our prosperity.

“A nation that can feed itself, fuel itself and defend itself has choices. Our abundant natural resources are central to maintaining those choices.

“The Coalition will always back Australian resources, Australian workers and Australia’s sovereign right to determine its own economic future.”

ENDS