Coal and gas companies could be sued for climate-fuelled flood damage under legislation promised by the Greens.
Greens leader Adam Bandt will join the party’s candidate Mandy Nolan for the flood-affected region of Richmond, on the NSW upper north coast, to announce the policy on Tuesday while offering extra support for flood victims.
The party introduced the Liability for Climate Change Damage Bill 2021 in the last parliamentary sitting period.
The Greens will also push for a $190 million a year fund for local communities in Richmond to build and upgrade critical infrastructure to reduce flood impacts.
The party will move to change the investment restrictions on the Emergency Response Fund to ensure $600 million is spent each year up until 2026/27, and $300 million a year afterwards, on climate resilience.
“Coal and gas are the leading causes of climate change, which is ravaging the Northern Rivers,” Mr Bandt said.
“Coal and gas corporations fuelled the floods and they should pay for the damage they have caused.”
Richmond is held by Labor’s Justine Elliot on a four per cent margin, ahead of the Nationals.
