Greenwash Political Action Party and Urban Grassroots Movement for the Green Party

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Beazley's new climate change pitch is old

With Kim Beazley making a big pitch on climate change today it would be good if he actually said something new. Pre-reports of his speech in this morning’s media don’t give one much hope. At least three of the big ticket items look like a re-hash of old announcements.

1. Reduce Australia’s emissions by 60% by 2050.

This is old. It was the ALP’s 2000 national conference in Hobart that first noted the need to reduce emissions by 60-80%. The international debate has certainly moved a mountain in the last 6 years but not the ALP’s policy.

What’s more it is weak. What is really needed is an intermediate target, like the 20% by 2020 adopted by the South Australian Liberals 3 weeks ago.

As we mentioned then it is this intermediate target that will actually force real action in the short and medium term. A long term target means it is too easy to put off action to the never never.

2. Increase the renewable energy target to 5%.

This is old. It was first announced by Simon Crean 3 years ago. While environment spokesperson Anthony Albanese on AM this morning said the ALP would agree to much higher targets, the Financial Review reports today that such targets will not be committed too until closer to the federal election.

3. Ratify Kyoto.

Good but this was first announced by Kim Beazley in the 2001 election campaign in the Botanic gardens in Sydney.

Overall the problem is that the ALP at federal and state level in NSW remains addicted to coal.

It is the same problem they face on forestry policy. Kim Beazley was quick to cosy up with John Howard upon his return to the leadership when he announced he was at one with the PM on the destruction of Tasmania’s forests.

While ever the likes of Martin Ferguson remain prominent, the ALP will be tied to the old, jobs-poor economy instead of the new, clean, green, jobs-rich industries of the future.

posted by Ben Oquist # 11:13 AM 1 comments