2017-05-10
The Liberals have screwed over the next generation of Collie by leaving out any funding for a transition plan towards clean energy in last night’s Federal budget.
Greens Senator for WA Scott Ludlam said instead of drawing down fuel subsidies to help coal towns like Collie face their new future of renewable energy, they increased payments to butter up fossil fuel based companies by 20 per cent.
“They’re boosting fossil fuel subsidies by 1.2 billion over four years, to $7.3 billion per year in 2021,” he said.
“The 20 per cent increase in fossil fuel subsidies is no surprise, this government’s priority is paying back millions in fossil fuel donations not protecting our environmental heritage or investing in job-rich clean energy.
“When towns like Collie understand their future is being phased out of fossil fuels, they will look to Governments to help them out but Malcolm Turnbull has proven he has no imagination or compassion for the families about to lose their livelihoods through no fault of their own.”
Greens MLC-elect for the South West Diane Evers said the Liberals ignored the massive community movement against fracking by handing out $80 million for gas including $60 million for more fracking.
“Communities in the South West want renewable energy projects. They want their farmers to be able to say to ‘NO’ to gas extraction,” she said.
“The movement against fracking is winning around the country because it wrecks our land, climate, and water.
“But the Liberals will only listen to their mates in the gas and fossil fuel industries not act to safeguard our environment and climate for the next generation”.
The Greens (WA) Energy 2030 plan:
1. Provides a roadmap to reach 100% renewable electricity on the South West Grid by 2030 and illustrates two costed scenarios to get there.
2. Establishes a new government authority called Renew Western Australia to drive the transition, responsible for planning and leveraging $500 million of investment into construction of new energy generation over the next four years in WA;
3. Support workers as we transition away from fossil fuels through a $100m Clean Energy Transition Fund to ensure coal workers and communities are not left behind, with $6.6m each year for direct training and reskilling programs and investment for new businesses;
4. Introduce a staged Phase out Plan based on new state based emissions and pollution intensity standards, to enable the orderly and stable closure of our dirtiest coal and gas-fired power stations, and a fair transition for all.
http://greens.org.au/news/wa/energy-2030-making-wa-100-renewable-2030
Media Release Energy