Former Greens leader Bob Brown has hit back at NSW Premier Chris Minns’ criticism of anti-coal protesters, saying Labor is playing into Peter Dutton’s hands by licensing more coal mining, gas fracking and forest destruction, instead of acting to stem coal production, forest destruction and global warming which is increasing insurance costs for everybody.

“Where Labor should be banning more coal mines, prohibiting more gas fracking and ending native forest logging, it is acting little differently to the Coalition on all three fronts and is leaving the majority of Australians, who fear climate change, in the lurch. For example, the cost of insurance rose 14% last year following flood and fire calamities worsened by global warming. Coalition and Labor governments at state and federal level can share the blame for those excessive cost rises.”

“Minns’ attack on intelligent citizens calling for a halt to coal exports is all political but devoid of action to stem the costs of climate change hitting the pockets of everyone. Climate change looms as the greatest factor increasing costs for the next generations but, due to politicians like Dutton and Minns, it is hardly discussed in the public arena. Neither of them has the backbone to face their responsibility for the cost of insurance now hitting householders across NSW and all of Australia.”

“Minns attack on the 2019 Stop Adani Convoy is all about Labor being hurt by its own actions and not the reality of its culpable failure to end burning fossilised as well as living forests. He could start by keeping his own failed election promises to protect forests and koalas in NSW,” Brown said.

Photo: Rising Tide