Posted by admin on November 15, 2009
Greens Leader Bob Brown says the Rudd government and Turnbull opposition are on the verge of a polluter’s pact which will lock Australia into failure in dealing with climate change.
“The opposition, in winning a ‘permanent’ exclusion concession on agriculture, is now set for more featherbedding of the worst polluting industries before endorsing the emissions trading scheme with its risible 5% minimum greenhouse gas reduction target”, Senator Brown said.
“A Galaxy poll released by the Greens today shows most Australians want the minimum 25% reduction target called for by scientists, environmentalists and the Greens.
“A separate poll released by Australian Greens Higgins candidate Clive Hamilton shows 69% of Australians want the government to negotiate with the Greens.
“The big polluters have the big parties captured and stored. This is a Labor-Coalition recipe for failure,” Senator Brown said.
Posted by admin on November 13, 2009
Anna Bligh should pump recycled water into Wivenhoe Dam rather than squandering billions on more energy-hungry and expensive desalination plants, said the Greens today.
“The $9 billion water recycling plant and pipelines are ready to go – taxpayers have already footed the bill. Bligh just needs to show leadership and turn on the tap to supply sustainable water which is cleaner than what we are drinking now,” said Australian Greens lead Senate candidate for Queensland, Larissa Waters.
“Bligh is continuing the Community Futures Taskforce in the Mary Valley, but what about the impact on new communities threatened with eviction, damage and pollution from desalination? No community should ever again be subjected to the cruel uncertainty and arrogance that the Mary Valley people were.
“The federal government has saved Anna Bligh $1.8 billion dollars by refusing Traveston Dam – she should use that money to supply a free rainwater tank to every remaining South East Queensland home without one, and to invest in stormwater harvesting in our cities to catch the rain where it falls.
“If Bligh is determined not to use money saved from Traveston on providing sustainable water solutions, then it should be used to reduce government debt. The cost of Traveston was one of the reasons she used to justify selling off the state’s valuable assets – now there is even less excuse for this ill-conceived flogging off of public goods.”
“Bligh should also bring back the tough water restrictions that South East Queenslanders showed they were easily able to meet. A permanent water saving target of 170L per person is achievable and will keep a lid on water costs.
“If we are to get serious about sustainable water supply for South East Queensland, we must ensure that population growth in our region is sustainable. We should refuse to grant new development approvals unless the proponent can demonstrate that the necessary water is available and that planning processes address sustainable water supplies.
With timely planning and provision of water recycling, demand and supply management, rainwater tanks, stormwater harvesting, evaporation reduction, water efficiency and sustainable groundwater extraction, there should be no need for energy-guzzling desalination.
“Bligh should also scrap the planned Nathan Dam on the Dawson River which is designed to provide water to coal mines, and invest that money into providing renewable energy which will create Queensland jobs,” concluded Ms Waters.
Posted by admin on November 11, 2009
“This is a victory of science over politics. The Greens and the community are thrilled with Minister Garrett’s decision,” said Queensland lead Senate candidate and environmental lawyer Larissa Waters.
“Minister Garrett’s decision to apply the precautionary principle by refusing a dam with palpable risks to the environment is one which restores my faith in our federal environmental laws,” said Ms Waters.
“The challenge is now for Premier Bligh to invest in the alternative sustainable water supply solutions which the Greens and the Mary Valley community have been calling for for years.
“The Queensland government must focus on demand and supply management, rainwater tanks, water recycling, stormwater harvesting, evaporation reduction, water efficiency and sustainable groundwater extraction.
“Only after all these options have been delivered should the government consider the need for more energy-hungry and water-polluting desalination plants. If they are found to be necessary, desalination plants must be powered by 100% renewable energy, be sited out of national parks and have safe brine disposal,” concluded Ms Waters.
Posted by admin on November 9, 2009
The Australian Greens have put their support behind rallies being held around Australia today in support of the rights of Australian midwives.
The Greens support the rights of women to choose safe homebirths with the assistance of a midwife and have been working to strengthen the government’s midwives legislation.
But the government’s amendment to their bill, to be debated next week, requires midwives to work at all times in formal collaborative arrangements with doctors as a condition of insurance. Doctors will be able to veto these arrangements effectively giving the medical profession the ability to control which midwives can be insured and register.
“We find this completely unacceptable as it may erode rather than expand choices as doctors make decisions about what types of care to support,” Australian Greens health spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert said today.
“The Greens are deeply concerned about this amendment as it undermines the role of midwives and the capacity for women to choose a home birth. We are currently consulting widely around options for amendments to this legislation.
“We will continue to fight for greater choice and less interventionist maternity care and support the Australian Private Midwives Association’s call for the government to make sure options for choice are not lost in the process of this reform,” Senator Siewert said.
Read Australian College of Midwives media release here.
Posted by admin on
From left: Australian Greens leader Senator Bob Brown, Senate candidates Jenny Stirling, Larissa Waters (lead), Libby Connors and Candidate for the Division of Brisbane, Andrew Bartlett.
Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown has today announced the Greens’ Queensland Senate team, headed by environmental lawyer Larissa Waters, and the Greens candidate for Brisbane, former Senator
Andrew Bartlett.
“We will campaign strongly to win a Greens’ Senate seat in Queensland. Larissa will make a fine addition to our team in the Senate. When the Nationals and the Liberals tried to block the economic stimulus in the Senate, the Greens succeeded in negotiating better outcomes, saving tens of thousands of jobs in Queensland. Because of the Greens, millions of dollars are now being invested in Queensland heritage, bikeways and other local job creation projects.”
“I’m delighted that former Democrats leader Andrew Bartlett will be the Greens candidate for the very green seat of Brisbane. Andrew’s experience and huge knowledge of Queensland will give voters in Brisbane a real alternative to the old parties,” Senator Brown said.
Mr Bartlett said: “The Greens are a genuine threat in a number of House of Representative seats at next year’s election. We need to take the fight up to the major parties in as many seats as possible to force better policies and genuine debate on vital issues like climate change, underemployment, housing affordability, human rights, accountability and sensible economic management.”
Ms Waters said: “As a Greens Senator for Queensland, I would bring a long term view which is beholden to the planet, not the big end of town. I’ll stand up for the Reef, our rivers, our forests and coastal areas, and to represent Queenslanders who want real action on climate change and a just and sustainable future.”
Larissa Waters leads an all-female Senate ticket with candidates Libby Connors from regional Queensland and Jenny Stirling from North Queensland.
Posted by admin on November 7, 2009
The Greens have welcomed federal funding to help King Island develop its plans to switch to 100% renewable power.
“Congratulations to all those in the King Island community and beyond who have helped make this exciting renewable energy plan a reality,” Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne said.
“King Island rightly has a reputation for being clean, green and clever, and this welcome funding should help the island leave polluting fossil fuels behind altogether, demonstrating to the rest of Australia how 100% renewably-powered grids can work.
“I was very pleased to see what is being done with King Island’s power when I visited recently, and encouraged everyone to get behind the push to go 100% renewable. I’m delighted that real progress is being made.
“Between wind power, solar power, biodiesel and innovative electricity storage systems, King Island can go 100% renewable, and this welcome funding can help make it a reality. ”It is ironic that all of Tasmania except the Bass Strait Islands had 100% renewable power before the short-sighted and tragic decision to pursue BassLink that made Tasmania an importer of Victoria’s dirty brown coal.
“Now King Island is leading the way back again.
“It is also ironic that the Rudd Government is still focusing on renewable energy at the margins, when huge progress can be made in shifting the whole country to clean, jobs-rich and pollution free power.”
We acknowledge and respect the traditional owners of this country and the land on which we stand