Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens climate change and environment spokesperson, comments on the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook:

"The Liberal Government is cutting climate and environment programs but keeping the spurious Wind Farm Commissioner.

The Palaszczuk Government needs to back up its rhetoric about the merged Energex and Ergon business using clean energy technology in Townsville.

"Queensland can be a  renewable energy powerhouse and Townsville has the potential to lead the nation in baseload solar power," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, said.

The Palaszczuk Government's budget review is deluded in predicting coal royalties will return to levels only seen at height of the mining boom.

"The Palaszczuk Government is deluded for thinking it can bank on coal into the future," Senator Larissa Waters Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, said.

The budget review forecasts $2.4 billion in coal royalties in 2018-19 - the same amount collected in 2011-12.

Premier Palaszczuk's comments on ABC last night that Queensland will always be reliant on coal and her go-slow on the Queensland Renewable Energy Target are at odds with the Paris agreement.

"The Labor Government is proving just as bad as Campbell Newman's when it comes to pushing ahead with new coal mines and they're failing to keep their promises to support renewable energy," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, said.  

"In the lead up to the state election, Labor promised action on a Queensland Renewable Energy Target of 50% by 2030.

• Reference to a 1.5 degree limit will require countries to ratchet up targets
• Australia will now need to rapidly transition from coal to renewables
• Agreement to $100 billion in finance for developing countries to develop via low carbon economies

The Australian Greens welcomed the announcement by world leaders that a framework agreement to tackle global warming has been reached in Paris, but urged the work has just begun towards averting the catastrophic impacts of global warming and transforming the global economy.

The Australian Greens are calling on Westpac to rule out funding Adani's Carmichael mine in order to meet its commitment to keep global warming within 2 degrees, announced today.

"There's no way you can finance the Southern Hemisphere's largest coal mine and say you're taking action on global warming," Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, said.

"It's looking very unlikely that any of the big four Australian banks will finance the Carmichael mine.

Responding to Environment Minister Hunt's announcement of Australia's National Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Climate spokesperson Senator Larissa Waters said:

"While adaptation is an important part of dealing with the locked-in impacts of our already changed climate, it is no excuse for the Government to continue to drive global warming with its dangerous coal obsession.

The Turnbull Government's obsession with coal undermines the global momentum in Paris, and threatens the health of Australian workers.

"It was devastating to hear this morning that four Queensland coalmine workers have been diagnosed with black lung. There is no cure for this terrible disease, and we must make sure that this is not the James Hardie of the coal industry," said Deputy Leader and climate spokesperson Senator Larissa Waters.

Labor's climate targets announced today leave the Turnbull Government isolated but raise serious questions about how Labor will deliver on its targets without a plan to transition away from coal.

"We welcome this shift from the ALP but now they need a detailed plan to achieve these modest targets," said Greens Leader Richard Di Natale.

"Transitioning away from coal is what's required to safeguard our economy and achieve dramatic pollution cuts, but neither of the big parties are willing to show leadership.

This weekend tens of thousands of people will be hitting the street around the country for the Peoples’ Climate Marches. This is our chance to send Prime Minister Turnbull a strong message as he makes his way to Paris - Australia is ready to RenewAustralia and embrace a clean energy future.