[Greens-Media] New Premier's first blunder * he forgot the environment

[Lee Rhiannon]

MEDIA RELEASE - 3 August 2005

New Premier's first blunder * he forgot the environment

Mr Morris Iemma has shown poor judgement in failing to take up the many environmental challenges facing NSW in his first speech as NSW Premier elect Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said today.

"Mr Iemma's failure to outline his vision for the environment in his first speech after being elected Premier was a serious blunder," Ms Rhiannon said. 

"The environmental challenges facing this state are enormous. The Premier will fail the people of NSW if he does not recognise that environmental protection is critical to a healthy economy.

"The challenges of climate change and the oil supply crisis are already impacting on our economy through the insurance, transport, and energy industries. 

"If the new Premier could show some vision he could gain an advantage for NSW by taking an all of government approach to these challenges.

"He needs to start by scrapping plans to build a desalination plant and giving a commitment not to build any more coal fired power plants

"There is a huge potential for job creation in environmentally friendly industries. The renewable energy and energy efficiency fields would be jobs rich if the NSW government was willing to give some initial support. 

"High value added products using wood from existing plantations rather than woodchipping would create work in regional centres as well as protecting our old growth forests," Ms Rhiannon said. 

For more information * 9230 3551



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Lee Rhiannon, MLC
The Greens
Parliament of New South Wales
Macquarie St 
Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Email   lee.rhiannon at parliament.nsw.gov.au
Web    www.nsw.greens.org.au/lee

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