The Labor and Nationals candidates in the battleground seat of Hunter have clashed in a televised debate over the Opposition's plans to cut emissions from the nation's biggest polluters.
Labor's Dan Repacholi said during the debate on Sky News on Wednesday that "no mines will be affected in the Hunter" by his party's plans to adjust an existing government scheme covering 215 companies, including 15 coalmines in the region.
The Abbott government introduced the Safeguard Mechanism in 2016 to keep caps on the operators' emissions.
Labor proposes to "gradually" lower the caps every year on the path to net zero emissions by 2050.
Companies which exceed the cap could be forced to buy carbon offset credits, though Labor says it will tailor the limits for each emitter so they are not disadvantaged against international competitors.
The shadow minister for climate change and energy, Chris Bowen, said 10 days ago that Labor would require the 215 emitters, including coalmines, to reach net zero by 2050.
It is unclear what financial impact the incrementally lower emission caps would impose on mining companies, but the limits apply only to pollution caused during mining production, and not when the coal is burnt in domestic and overseas power stations and factories.
Mr Repacholi said Labor was proposing to do "exactly what this government is doing" under the Safeguard Mechanism.
"Workers will not be at risk under this policy. We will make sure of that," he said.
"At the end of the day, we both have the same plan here."
Nationals candidate James Thomson leapt on Mr Repacholi's comments, saying they were at odds with Labor's policy.
"That's not right. Let me explain the Labor party's policy, even though they can't explain it properly themselves," he said.
Mr Thomson said the Coalition's emissions cap under the Safeguard Mechanism was set at "roof level" and would not affect "any existing businesses", while Labor would set the limits lower.
He said the Coalition proposed to reach net zero by investing in technology while Labor planned to "tax" polluters.
Mr Repacholi said the Safeguard Mechanism was not a tax.
"Chris Bowen is saying what Chris Bowen is saying. I'm saying what I know. We are not taxing coalmines," he said.
Both Mr Thomson and Mr Repacholi told the Newcastle Herald last week that they supported their parties' commitments to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
One Nation candidate Dale McNamara also took part in the live debate, arguing that net zero targets "threaten the future of the Hunter".
"Both parties have got a target called zero by 2050," Mr McNamara said, describing the Labor and Coalition plans as a "wrecking ball".
Independent Stuart Bonds, who received 21.6 per cent of the vote as a One Nation candidate in 2019, and Greens candidate Janet Murray were not invited to participate in the debate.
Mr Bonds, who could not have taken part anyway as he is isolating at home with COVID, is also against net zero targets, while the Greens want to phase out thermal coal mining by 2030.
