This story was updated at 4:30pm.
The Australian Greens have backed a carbon trading scheme that will enable the creation of the Great Koala National Park (GKNP), despite three of the party’s senators sensationally walking away from the deal on Thursday.
What happened: The federal Senate voted late on Thursday afternoon to endorse the Improved Native Forest Management (INFM) method, which would enable companies to offset their emissions by purchasing carbon credits from public forests, such as the proposed GKNP.
The NSW government says the creation of the GKNP is dependent on a carbon trading method being approved.
Greens get on board: Until now, the federal Greens have not supported the concept of attaching a carbon credits scheme to native forests.
On Thursday afternoon, Greens leader Larissa Waters announced her party would back the INFM method, following negotiations with the government.
Government concessions: She said this was based on a commitment to stop coal and gas companies using offsets generated in native forests, new mechanisms to reduce logging volumes and an assurance that native forests can’t be reclassified as plantations.
“The Greens party room has resolved to support the improved INFM because forest and habitat is critical to prevent endangered species from extinction, as well as the climate,” Waters said.
Unhappy campers: Despite their party’s position, Greens senators Nick McKim, Vanessa Bleyer and Jordan Steele-John voted against the method.
In a joint statement, McKim and Bleyer said they “simply don’t accept that forests need to be monetised in order to save them”.
“This is a Labor shakedown. After repeatedly, unconditionally promising the Great Koala National Park, Labor is now holding koalas hostage and threatening to drive them towards extinction unless they can profit from their habitat. This is an ecocidal threat and we have chosen to resist it.”
There are 10 Greens senators in the Federal Parliament.
The vote - on a National Party motion to block the method - failed by 34 votes to 27.
More detailed coverage of the issue here.
Image credit: Larissa Waters Facebook.