Vic bushfires: Labor says it has ‘our backs’ as it approves new coal |
As bushfires rage across Victoria, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on January 11 that he had our backs. But this is simply not true, as Labor continues to approve new coal and gas — which is fuelling the climate emergency.
The fires coincided with one of the worst heatwaves in years; they have destroyed more than 500 structures, including 180 homes, and at least one person has died.
Multiple bushfires are still burning, although none remain at emergency level.
Labor’s assistance package provides a “one-off immediate payment of $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per child”, which includes people who have been seriously injured or lost their homes.
While emergency assistance is necessary, we need more than that. We need a government that will stand up to the big fossil fuel corporations, which are responsible for the climate change that is turbocharging extreme weather events.
Instead, Labor is doing the opposite. It has approved Woodside’s major gas expansion in Western Australia; enacted business-friendly nature laws that ignore the climate impacts of new developments; and announced inadequate 2035 climate........