Greens want to ‘improve and pass’ Labor’s climate bill but remain critical of 43% target

The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, said the party has not yet agreed on whether to block or pass Labor’s climate legislation if it isn’t amended. Photograph: Jono Searle/AAP

The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, has said his “preference” is to pass Labor’s climate bill, but said the government must be prepared to negotiate to improve the legislation and its “weak” 43% emissions reduction target.

After a meeting of the party’s 16 MPs and senators at a retreat near Brisbane on Wednesday, Bandt said a consensus had been reached to enter into formal negotiations with the government with the aim of amending the legislation.