Senators Bob Brown and Christine Milne press conference - 17-5-2011
Discussing Current Climate Change Negotiations
Greens back levy after $100 million win on solar
...and support for affordable housing, education
The Australian Greens will support the flood levy in the House of Representatives and the Senate after important gains from the Government on their proposed funding cuts.
Greens Leader Bob Brown, Deputy Leader Christine Milne and MP Adam Bandt took their concerns directly to the government and negotiated a good outcome that will release funding for flood recovery and protect key programs.
The Greens have ensured that $100 million will be returned to the Solar Flagships program in the forward estimates and that a proper consultation process will be undertaken to develop long term policy for large-scale solar power.
The Greens also secured agreement for continued discussions about long-term funding for disaster relief and options for a national insurance program as the nation moves toward confronting the challenges posed by climate change.
The Role of Global Warming
After the hottest and wettest year in recorded history, the seas off northern Australia are also currently warmer than ever before. This heat has led to increased evaporation and so, rainfall.
Sceptics and defenders of the coal industry may dispute this scientific data, but they don’t. Instead, they are arguing that there should be no debate – not, at least, until some undefined time in the future when the cataclysm has passed and its injuries are behind us.
What did Bob Brown really say about the floods?
Find out the true story about what Senator Bob Brown said about the floods and mining tax.
Full Media Release follows:
Coal barons should help pay for catastrophes - Brown
The full tax on excess profits by the coal mining industry, as recommended by Treasury, should be imposed with half set aside for future natural catastrophes in Australia, Greens Leader Bob Brown said in Hobart today.
"It is unfair that the cost is put on all taxpayers, not the culprits," Senator Brown said.
Queensland Flood Appeal
The tragic loss of life in the Queensland floods, as well as the shocking images of besieged cities, evacuated suburbs, homes and cars swept away and farms ruined, leaves us luckier Australians asking how we can help.
Please join with us in giving to the Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal.
Climate Change Committee 1st milestone towards a carbon price
The Greens have delivered a huge step towards tackling climate change with the establishment of a new Climate Change Committee of federal parliamentarians and experts.
Established as part of an agreement between the Greens and Labor to support the formation of the Gillard Government, the Committee will work to develop a mechanism to put a price on carbon pollution.
"I look forward to giving my all as co-deputy chair of the committee, alongside Minister Greg Combet, with the Prime Minister as chair and Senator Brown, Treasurer Swan and Tony Windsor as members," said Australian Greens Deputy Leader Senator Christine Milne.
Senator Bob Brown pre-election National Press Club address
Text of Senator Brown's speech. Check against delivery. A complete transcript will be available shortly.
You can also watch the speech on iView
Ladies and gentlemen, Saturday is crunch time for Australia. In the Senate it will either be a vote for the Greens in bigger numbers, providing accountability, or a return to Coalition domination. I will come back to these options, but first I want to talk about the campaign.
Three messages have been repeated to me from people in the streets of Australian cities and towns these last weeks as I travelled from Darwin to Melbourne, from Mackay to Cygnet, from Orange to Gunghalin, from Adelaide to Perth.
Clean energy grid for South Australia
The Greens want to harvest South Australia's abundant renewable energy sources, like wind, solar and geothermal, to turn the state into a renewable energy export hub.
In Adelaide, Greens leader Bob Brown and South Australian Senate candidate Penny Wright proposed an inventory of renewable resources and investment in the electricity grid to ensure clean energy can be exported to the energy hungry eastern states.