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State election results consolidate Greens' mainstream status
9 hours 13 min agoSolid swings to Greens candidates in both the Tasmanian and South Australian elections have consolidated the party's position as Australia's third party, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said in Hobart today. The Tasmanian Greens will share the balance of power with the Labor and Liberal party after achieving more than 20% of the vote and 5 seats with a sixth - second seat in Denison - still possible. In South Australia Greens candidate Tammy Jennings won the Greens' second seat in the Legislative Council with a 1.6% swing to the party.
"This is a strong message to both Liberal and Labor. It bodes well for our Senate campaign later this year," Senator Bob Brown said.
"Labor's dirt campaign backfired but I wont be surprised if Victorian Labor resurrects it to cut across the Greens' campaigns for the state and federal seats of Melbourne in this year's state and federal elections.
Commenting on confusion about the prospects from Tasmania's elections, Senator Brown said Labor's David Bartlett will remain Premier until he is tested on the floor in the House of Assembly, unless he were to resign.
"But if Tasmania got poor governance from a group of 13 MPs, who would expect to get better from 10? It is time the Island State's cabinet was made up of the best talent from all three parties or, at least, the two which form government," Senator Brown said.
Categories: Senate Media Releases
Brown backs Sea Shepherd legal challenge
9 hours 17 min agoAustralia must act to ensure Japanese whalers are prosecuted for actions in the Southern Ocean said Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown today following the launch of an international legal challenge by Sea Shepherd.Lawyers acting for Sea Shepherd captain Paul Watson have made an official complaint to the Australian Federal Police calling for the prosecution of the captain of the Shonan Maru 2 which rammed and sunk the Sea Shepherd boat the Ady Gil.
Under Australian law, the Shonan Maru 2 captain could be tried in Australia and face life imprisonment for his actions.
Senator Brown also called on the New Zealand Government to defend Ady Gil captain and NZ-citizen Pete Bethune who is in custody in Japan.
"The deplorable actions of Japanese whalers in the Southern Ocean are set to be proven to be illegal under a range of Australian, New Zealand and international laws," said Senator Brown.
"The captain of the Japanese whaler that rammed the Ady Gil, endangering six lives in the process, should be prosecuted in Australia and face the appropriate sentence.
"Captain Pete Bethune is currently in custody in Japan, after he boarded the Shonan Maru 2 and performed a citizen's arrest on the vessel's captain.
"But under international sea law and related New Zealand laws it is the Japanese whalers who should be in prison.
"Prime Minister Kevin Rudd cannot wait until after the federal election to take action on this urgent issue."
Categories: Senate Media Releases
Greens assured over $439m to Tasmanian schools
Fri, 19/03/2010 - 12:58Contrary to Labor spin, the Australian Greens' support for the Rudd government's $42 billion economic stimulus package has resulted in Tasmanian schools, including the Catholic and independent schools sharing in $439 millions for new classrooms, libraries and other amenities.
Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said that the Liberals opposed the package outright.
"But the Greens got it through the Senate," Senator Brown said.
"This funding boost for schools and the building industry resulted in $327 million going to 203 public schools, $74 million to 36 Catholic schools and $38 million to 32 independent schools in Tasmania."
"Left to the Liberals, not one dollar would have come to Tasmania."
"Labor should give the Greens credit where its due," Senator Brown said.
Media contact: Erin Farley 0438 376 082
Categories: Senate Media Releases
Rudd prepares to open the uranium floodgates to Russia
Thu, 18/03/2010 - 17:49On the eve of the most important international disarmament negotiations in a generation, the Rudd Government has foreshadowed uranium sales to Russia, which holds the world's largest stockpile of nuclear weapons.
Late in 2008 the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) made a strong recommendation against a Howard-era Russia uranium deal proceeding, unless a number of important conditions were met.
"Instead of a reasoned rebuttal of the JSCOT report, the Government's response reads like a poorly worded press release from the uranium mining industry," said Greens Senator Scott Ludlam, spokesperson on nuclear issues.
"This feeble attempt to dismiss the entirely legitimate concerns of JSCOT is nothing more than Prime Minister Kevin Rudd clearing the decks on behalf of the uranium miners.
"The Rudd Government wants to open the uranium floodgates to Russia, which is currently proliferating nuclear technology into Iran and Burma, where journalists and anti-nuclear activists are intimidated and murdered, and where a nuclear weapons modernisation process is forging ahead.
"This is a new and shameful low for Prime Minister Rudd," Senator Ludlam said.
Media Contact: Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0417 174 302
Categories: Senate Media Releases
Building efficiency disclosure welcome, but Greens' bill would deliver greater benefits
Thu, 18/03/2010 - 14:02The Greens today welcomed the final arrival of the Rudd government's election promise to require non-residential commercial buildings to disclose their energy efficiency to potential purchasers or lessees.
The disclosure scheme is a small step forward, but will have nowhere the broad positive impact for lowering energy bills, increasing productivity and reducing emissions that the Greens Energy Efficient Non-Residential Buildings Scheme would have.
"I'm glad that this disclosure scheme has finally arrived, but it is disappointing that once again the Rudd government has opted for the lowest common denominator instead of reaching towards ambitious action," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.
"Everyone agrees that we need to do more to drive the incredible cost savings and emissions savings that will ultimately accrue from taking decisive action to upgrade our homes, offices, schools, hospitals and shopping centres for energy efficiency.
"The government's plan for mandatory disclosure of energy performance when buildings are sold or let is a small step in the right direction, but the government would be well advised to look at stronger policies with such clear support both in Australia and overseas.
"It is a pity that the bill is limited to only large office buildings. We need to see some solid plans for increasing energy efficiency in schools, hospitals, shopping centres and other commercial buildings.
"The Greens' bill is a groundbreaking approach that would ultimately benefit both building owners and occupants with lower energy bills and healthier environments, and all of us through reduced pollution and increased productivity.
"Mandatory disclosure will certainly help those who are already committed to action by making information on energy performance available, but it is not designed to drive systemic change across all buildings in Australia.
"The great benefit of the Greens' bill is that it requires all building owners and managers to make energy efficiency a priority.
"There are so many tremendous benefits from energy efficiency, but we have to make it a priority if we are to reap those benefits. That goes for the government as well as building managers."
Information on Senator Milne's bill is at: http://christine-milne.greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/greens-int...
Categories: Senate Media Releases
Government Fails the Nuclear Weapons Test
Thu, 18/03/2010 - 11:15The government and the opposition today voted against a Senate motion that simply noted a number of public statements.
"If the government can't even note statements made by its own Ambassadors, the Attorney General, the UN Secretary General, Gareth Evans and an article of a treaty Australia signed in 1973 we are in real trouble," said Senator Scott Ludlam, Australian Greens spokesperson on nuclear issues.
"Far from the leadership the government has promised on nuclear weapons issues, by voting against this the government undermines the global consensus, winding back the progress made when the nuclear weapon states gave an ‘unequivocal undertaking for the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals' at an historic consensus reached in 2000.
"Weakening the global consensus on nuclear weapons, and undermining the historic document agreed in 2000 was the Bush Administration's agenda.
"By indicating just how much it fails to grasp the details of the issue, the government has also failed to support President Obama's ambitious nuclear disarmament agenda which he set out in his April 2009 Prague statement.
"It remains to be seen whether the government is capable of heeding the advice provided to it by Gareth Evans to seize this moment," Senator Ludlam said.
Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0417 174 302
Categories: Senate Media Releases
Greens propose way forward on Do Not Call Register
Wed, 17/03/2010 - 18:07The Australian Greens have moved a proposal that would save the Government unnecessary expense and prevent telemarketers from being able to call people who are about to be inadvertently deleted from the "do not call" register.
"Around one million telephone numbers are due to come off the do not call register in May, as entries lapse every three years," said Greens Communications spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam.
"The Government is about to embark on a costly process of advertising to get Australians to put themselves back on the register when they lapse.
"There is no reason why people should have to register their number every three years. I think it is unlikely they have changed their views on intrusive telemarketing during the three year period, and in any case a person can remove their number from the Register at any time.
"We have drafted a sensible amendment to simply preserve peoples' status on the do not call register. We encourage the Government to urgently adopt it - either as an amendment to the Telstra legislation, or in the 'non-controversial' debating time tomorrow," Senator Ludlam said.
Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0417 174 302
Categories: Senate Media Releases
Greens' Efficient Building Scheme garners international support at Senate Inquiry
Wed, 17/03/2010 - 18:01A Greens Bill to establish a world-leading scheme to upgrade the energy efficiency of Australia's non-residential buildings such as offices, shopping centres, hotels and schools has received positive support from many experts, but been treated with studied disinterest by both Labor and Coalition Senators at a Senate inquiry.
The Energy Efficient Non-Residential Buildings Scheme, developed from an idea from Lend Lease, WSP Lincolne Scott and Advanced Environmental, would establish a cap and trade scheme for building energy efficiency, ensuring that all of Australia's non-residential buildings are upgraded as swiftly and fairly as possible.
"This Senate Inquiry has overwhelmingly confirmed the need for robust policies to improve the energy efficiency of Australia's non-residential buildings," Senator Milne said.
"Everyone who came before the committee agreed that a carbon price will not be enough to achieve the incredible cost savings and emissions savings that will ultimately accrue from taking decisive action to upgrade our non-residential buildings for energy efficiency.
"The Greens bill is a groundbreaking approach that would ultimately benefit both building owners and occupants with lower energy bills and healthier environments, and all of us through reduced pollution and increased productivity."
Support for the bill was received from international experts and organisations such as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development's Energy Efficiency in Buildings Project; RAND Corporation, one of America's oldest research institutes; and Dr David Vincent, Projects Director, Carbon Trust - an independent company set up by the UK Government to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy.
"It is disappointing, however, that the Economics Legislation Committee, dominated by the government, does not have a culture of trying to achieve a consensus and that the Chair failed to circulate comments on her draft that sought to achieve consensus.
"As a result, in several areas the Committee's report fails to represent the evidence received and fails to capture the essence of the arguments relating to the bill.
"From the Greens point of view, a key outcome of the inquiry was that amongst all the submissions to the inquiry, there was no substantive rebuttal of the very simple method of assessing building energy intensity based on the reporting of electricity and gas bills.
"The government's plan for mandatory disclosure of energy performance when buildings are sold or let is a small step in the right direction, but the government would be well advised to look at stronger policies with such clear support both in Australia and overseas.
"Regardless of the cavalier manner with which the Committee treated this bill, the Greens will continue to pursue this legislation until such important measures are in place."
Senator Milne's Dissenting Report to the Committee is here.
Information on the bill is available at: http://christine-milne.greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/greens-int...
AttachmentDateSize Efficient Building Scheme Sen Inq Dissenting Rpt.pdf17/03/10 6:01 pm61.56 KBCategories: Senate Media Releases
Australia takes first step toward UN Commission of Inquiry on Burma rights abuses
Wed, 17/03/2010 - 16:27The Federal Government has taken a lead internationally by agreeing to "investigate possible options for the establishment of a United Nations commission of inquiry" into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma.
"The Australian Greens have been calling on the Government to take this step for more than a year, and this is extremely welcome news," Greens Senator Scott Ludlam said today.
"This is the first step towards the UN conducting a full investigation into the facts and evidence relevant to the crimes of this vicious military regime and its corrupt judiciary - the lethal force against civilians, the torture, detention, forced labour, persecution and rape. Australia has been holding back from supporting this initiative, but its change of position overnight is absolutely to be welcomed."
"The Greens will now be following up the precise actions taken by the Australian Government in pursuit of these objectives," Senator Ludlam said.
A senate motion welcoming the Government's initiative passed with unanimous support this afternoon.
Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0417 174 302
UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION: "The progress report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tomas Ojea Quintana (A/HRC/13/48) notes that a pattern of gross and systematic violation of human rights has been in place for many years. Given the extent and persistence of the problem, and the lack of accountability, there is an indication that those human rights violations are the result of a State policy, originating from decisions by authorities in the executive, military and judiciary at all levels. The Government needs to take prompt and effective measures to investigate these facts." http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=9909&LangID=E
Categories: Senate Media Releases
Brighton Army Barracks sold at 7% of value
Wed, 17/03/2010 - 15:32The Brighton Army Barracks, now worth $35 million, were sold by the federal Liberal government in 2003 for $150,000 despite a valuation of $2.4 million.
Greens Leader Bob Brown asked Defence Minister John Faulkner today in the Senate how the Valuer General could have got the valuation so wrong.
Senator Brown called for a review of policy on the sale of land to prevent such a debate in future.
Categories: Senate Media Releases
Canberra call to clean up politics
Wed, 17/03/2010 - 15:07Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown has moved in the Senate for the establishment of a Truth in Political Advertising Unit before the federal election due later this year.
His motion will be voted on tomorrow.
Senator Brown condemned the trend to misleading attack advertisements.
Citing Liberal advertisements devised in conjunction with the Exclusive Brethren sect in Tasmania in 2006 and current Labor advertisements attacking the Greens, Senator Brown called on both parties to confront their backroom operators and clean out the dirt campaign eroding standards and misleading voters.
Senator Brown also said Labor advertisements attacking the South Australian Liberal Leader Isobel Redmond on drugs and prison policy breach reasonable standards of decency in politics.
Categories: Senate Media Releases
The Real Work For Student Income Support Starts Now
Wed, 17/03/2010 - 13:36The Senate's agreement on Youth Allowance only marks the beginning of the campaign to achieve equality for student income support, according to Green Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.
Senator Hanson-Young, Greens Education spokesperson, says the Greens secured a $20 million taskforce in the package to look at ways of delivering income support to rural and regional areas.
"Thank goodness this legislation has finally passed through the Senate, with just 24 hours to go for the Parliament to agree without missing the cut-off for students to drop courses without paying fees,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.
"At least the scholarships have been passed, and the positive aspects of the package will now provide income support to some extra students.
"But let's call this what it is - a hastily assembled compromise which has left Australia's student income support system looking like a dog's breakfast.
"The choice of which areas qualify for assistance and which do not seems totally random. Why should places like Albury and Orange, Ballarat and Bendigo, Mackay and Rockhampton, Mt Gambier, Bunbury and Launceston all miss out, even though students from those areas will still be forced to move long distances out of home to access studies?
"Of course students who have to move cities will miss out too. It's not fair, it's not equitable, and we must do better in future.''
The Greens negotiated with the Government to secure the taskforce as part of the party's commitment to help students in rural and regional areas.
"We believe that the taskforce is a positive step that provides the best way of dealing with Youth Allowance in future to ensure it is fair and equitable for all,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.
"The bottom line is that young people should not be forced to delay their studies to qualify for the support they need, regardless whether they live in a regional city or town, a remote Outback area or have to move cities to access university. The Greens will continue to fight for that outcome.''
Categories: Senate Media Releases
Government suppresses NBN Implementation Study
Wed, 17/03/2010 - 12:03The Government has missed the deadline for a Senate order for the production of the $25 million KPMG / McKinsey National Broadband Network Implementation Study.
The suppression of the only independent analysis of the much-hyped $43 billion project will further erode confidence in the Government's plans for sweeping telecommunications reform.
"This is an offensive snub not just to the Senate's accountability role, but to anyone with an interest in whether the NBN can deliver education, health and communications services for all Australians, and the business case behind this massive infrastructure project," said Australian Greens telecommunications spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam.
"With the numbers in the Senate so finely balanced and a hostile opposition, the Minister seems determined to burn what little goodwill remains on the crossbenches. The support of the Australian Greens is essential for the Governments telecommunications agenda to progress. That support can no longer be taken for granted.
"In essence, this is the Minister saying 'trust me' with a cheque for $43 billion dollars, and then expecting the Senate to wave through complex and far-reaching legislation without proper scrutiny. That isn't going to happen."
Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0417 174 302
Categories: Senate Media Releases
Auditor General progress on Green Loans
Wed, 17/03/2010 - 11:29The Greens today welcomed progress towards fixing the Green Loans scheme.
The Auditor General has written to Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, outlining the performance audit he will undertake into the mismanagement of the scheme, following Senator Milne's referral of the issues to him.
In addition, Minister Wong has agreed to meet a delegation of home sustainability assessors coordinated by Senator Milne.
"The Green Loans Scheme was an excellent idea and its mismanagement should not be allowed to undermine the vital work to make Australia's homes more energy efficient," Senator Milne said.
"I'm very pleased that the Auditor General will be looking at the critical questions of what went wrong with this scheme. This process should help avoid similar debacles in the future.
"The mismanagement of the Green Loans Scheme has left a trail of disappointed and devastated householders and small business owners across the country.
"People have not been paid, paperwork has not been received, businesses that were encouraged to start up are now being tossed on the scrap heap.
"I'm also particularly pleased to have been able to help a delegation of assessors from around Australia secure a meeting with Minister Wong to raise their proposed solutions with her directly.
"If we can reach a positive conclusion from this process, it will be tremendously positive for Australian householders, many small businesses and the planet as a whole."
The letter from the Auditor General is available on request (or attached to email).
AttachmentDateSize Auditor General Green Loans inquiry 2.pdf17/03/10 11:33 am164.58 KBCategories: Senate Media Releases
Community compact an empty gesture? – Greens
Wed, 17/03/2010 - 10:16The Australian Greens have warned the Rudd Government that the signing of a Compact with the Community Sector risks being seen as an empty gesture.
"Signing this important statement of principle as they make fundamental changes to Australia's social security system is not a good look for the Rudd Government," said Greens Senator Rachel Siewert today.
"With legislation introducing national income management measures being debated in the Senate shortly, the first question on everyone's lips will be - is the promise to consult with the community services sector going to be just as superficial and meaningless as the promises to consult with Aboriginal communities?
"These laws, which are likely to be passed in the Senate this week, potentially apply to disadvantaged communities across Australia - but there has been no consultation whatsoever with the community sector on their effectiveness or design.
"Widespread and consistent condemnation of the government's indiscriminate approach to mandatory income quarantining by social service providers and community organisations in evidence to the recent Senate Inquiry was completely ignored.
"How these two contradictory processes can be happening at the same time in parallel beggars belief," Senator Siewert said.
"While the proposed Compact commits the Government to adhere to some important general principles of consultation and engagement, it is light on detail and process, and doesn't firmly lock the government into behaving any better in the future.
"It would be nice to think the signing of the compact today might mean such major sweeping changes could not be introduced without consultation or evidence - but frankly, I won't be holding my breath," concluded Senator Siewert.
Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0417 174 302
Categories: Senate Media Releases
Youth Allowance Compromise Is Not The Full Solution
Tue, 16/03/2010 - 20:06The Australian Greens welcome the agreement over Youth Allowance, but warn that it does not resolve the wider question of student income support in Australia.
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens Education spokesperson, says that she is happy that scholarships, while reduced, will be available for students from April 1, but has declared that the Greens are committed to run a campaign for equal treatment and support for all students up to the next election.
"We're glad that this legislation is going through, rather than being blocked all the way to an election, a result that would have hurt many more students and their families,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.
"However this is a compromise which does not deliver the support that all students need when they are trying to access university.
"In particular, many regional students who desperately want to improve their education are not going to receive support despite being forced to move out of home.
"The bottom line is that young people should not be forced to delay their studies to qualify for the support they need, regardless whether they live in a regional city or town, a remote Outback area or have to move from one city to another to access university. The Greens will continue to fight for that outcome.''
Under the proposed agreement, the former participation criteria would still apply to those in remote, very remote and outer regional areas, allowing them to qualify for the independent rate of Youth Allowance.
However many students in regional centres or non-outer regional areas will not benefit from the agreement.
"Sadly, the delays in reaching this resolution have meant that some students in regional areas have had to enrol in the hope of an agreement, while others have not enrolled because of the lack of certainty,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.
"Let's hope that these sort of delays are the exception, rather than the rule for controversial pieces of legislation in this election year.''
Categories: Senate Media Releases
Major parties unite against midwives and homebirths
Tue, 16/03/2010 - 16:06The Federal Government and Coalition have united to ensure that homebirth in Australia will be further marginalised by rejecting amendments to provide midwives with access to indemnity insurance irrespective of the location or venue of the births that they attend, the Australian Greens say.
In addition the government chose to reject Greens amendments that would have taken away the power of doctors to veto aspects of midwifery practice, such as homebirth, that they are philosophically opposed to, despite the near universal evidence that safe low risk homebirth has positive outcomes for mother and child.
"We have consistently said that the Government amendments to their Midwives legislation give doctors too much control over midwives practice," said Greens health spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert.
"It is extremely disappointing to see the major parties side together against the interests of midwives in refusing a Greens suggestion to broaden the scope of collaborative arrangements between midwives and medical practitioners to include health services, thereby ensuring that doctors can't veto homebirths.
"They have also voted down a call by the Greens for a 12 month review of the changes to ensure they are effective and don't merely restrict midwifery and women's choices as many fear.
"The Greens will not rest until the voice of midwives and women across the country are heard by this Government in such an important area of healthcare reform," Senator Siewert said.
Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0417 174 302
Categories: Senate Media Releases
SA Voters Need Answers on Water, Mr Rann
Tue, 16/03/2010 - 15:19The Australian Greens have called on the Rann Labor Government to come clean about the details of the prospective water deal done with upstream states before this weekend's state election, according to Green Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.
Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on the Murray Darling Basin, says she welcomes the prospect of more water coming down the river, but says that the government must release the details.
"It's always good to see more water for the river, but one has to question the timing of this announcement - luckily for Mr Rann it happens in the last week of a tight election campaign,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.
"What we need to know is what is the breakdown of this water figure. How much of the 400GL will go towards the neediest part of the river - 90 per cent? 50 per cent? 10 per cent?
"There are many different needs competing for precious water allocations, but it is critical that as much water as possible is allowed to reach the bottom end of the river and the Lower Lakes, to protect the system for future generations.''
The Greens have argued consistently that the Murray Darling Basin needs immediate action, rather than the delayed action promised by the Federal Government and Coalition.
"South Australia should not have to go cap in hand to upstream states whenever we get a flood-year in order, just to guarantee a viable water allocation.
"The only way to have long-term, sustainable management of the system is to have an independent, national authority with the power to make decisions without worrying about bickering politicians.
"The system needs to be managed across state borders, and there must be specific water allocation for the environment. We can't afford more delays, we need action now to fast-track the Basin plan, and to empower an authority to take the hard decisions on water.''
Categories: Senate Media Releases
ClimateWorks study lifts pressure on Rudd, but not enough
Tue, 16/03/2010 - 10:56The study released by ClimateWorks today demonstrating that 25% cuts in greenhouse emissions by 2020 are eminently achievable and affordable has increased the pressure on Prime Minister Rudd to deliver serious climate action before this year's election.
But the report missed the opportunity to refresh the climate debate in Australia, bringing it back up the agenda focussed on the much steeper emissions cuts the science demands, the Australian Greens said.
"With the ClimateWorks study today and yesterday's CSIRO climate update, it is clear that Mr Rudd is going to face increasing pressure to deliver serious climate action before the election," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.
"The Greens are ready, willing and able to deliver on serious climate action, and we look forward to reinvigorating the discussions with Minister Wong towards our proposed interim levy on polluters as a first step.
"We have so much evidence now - from ClimateWorks, McKinsey and even the Treasury - that 25% cuts are eminently achievable and affordable. That should be the minimum we aim for.
"There is so much evidence from around the world that the much steeper cuts that scientists tell us we need can bring tremendous social and economic dividends, drive faster innovation and reduce wasted investment.
"But we still have no-one in Australia seemingly willing to go beyond what Mr Rudd has declared is his maximum offer and examine the potential for 40% cuts and more.
"How much more powerful would this report have been if it refreshed the climate agenda by focussing it on the targets we need, rather than on weak political targets?
"What a pity that the ALP influence from the board has prevented ClimateWorks from doing the kind of study Australia really needed instead of replicating the kind of work that has already been done by Treasury, McKinsey and others.
"McKinsey has gone further than Climate Works already, demonstrating that 30% cuts by 2020 are eminently achievable and affordable, and Treasury has demonstrated that the difference in cost between cut of 5% and 25% is vanishingly small.
"The government's CPRS, as it stands, would lock out the option of going harder faster, would encourage the building of new coal fired power stations and would hide its failure with a bonanza of cheap and dodgy offsets from overseas.
"ClimateWorks has helped to demonstrate how short-sighted that approach is. It's time to move on."
Categories: Senate Media Releases
Labor's tactic undermines decency in public life - Brown
Tue, 16/03/2010 - 00:00The Greens national leader Senator Bob Brown says that Labor advertisements attacking opponents in Tasmania and South Australia undermine decency in Australian public life.
Referring to Labor's pre-election ads attacking the Liberals in South Australia and Greens in Tasmania with false claims of affinity for crimiansl or drugs, Senator Brown called on Prime Minister Rudd to intervene.
"This gutter stuff from Labor in both states requires decent leadership to intervene and call it what it is - unacceptable.
"It demeans every voters right to be fairly informed.
"Politics can be rough and tumble but Labor's new tactic low brings the worst of fringe group extremism centre stage.
"Mr Rudd should tell his state counterparts to lift their game," Senator Brown said.
Categories: Senate Media Releases
