[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE - SENATOR CHRISTINE MILNE - PM Howard abandons Australia's renewable energy industry

[Willis, Katrina (Sen C. Milne)]

MEDIA RELEASE

Friday, 25 August 2006

PM Howard abandons Australia's renewable energy industry

The Howard government's failure to back Australia's renewable energy
industry is driving jobs and industry out of the country, Australian
Greens energy and climate change spokesperson Senator Christine Milne
said today.

"Denmark produces 20 per cent of energy from wind power. Italy has just
decided to double its renewable energy capacity to 22 per cent by 2010.
Yet in Australia, the federal government is intent on keeping the nation
chained to dirty, polluting energy sources and waving goodbye to the new
industries as they leave for China," Senator Milne said in Devonport.

"The closure of the Vestas wind turbine manufacturing plant with the
loss of around 70 jobs is a major blow for Tasmania, in particular the
north west where secure employment is scarce and poverty is high.

"It is the latest bad news for an industry which the federal government
ought to be backing as a solution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions
and generating employment and wealth in regional and rural communities.

"The government has effectively abandoned the renewable energy industry
by refusing to lift and extend the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target
scheme (MRET) beyond 2010.

"Australians need to ask why the government is so prepared to back the
coal industry, to the detriment of our environment and our long-term
economic security in a world that must reduce its carbon emissions to
prevent catastrophic, irreversible climate change.

"Australia has a significant competitive advantage in much more than
just coal, we also have vast wind, solar and geothermal resources - and
in these 21st century energy technologies the rest of the world is
leaving Australia behind.

"Labor's policy is not much better. All Tasmanian Liberal and ALP
senators voted down a Greens' amendment earlier this year (Hansard, 22
June 2006*) to give effect to the main recommendation of the
government's Tambling inquiry to extend the MRET to 2020 and beyond the
measly target of around 2 per cent to 10 per cent." 


Contact: Katrina Willis 03 6234 4566 or 0437 587 562


* Division on Australian Greens amendment
Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2006
22 June 2006

Extract from Hansard
 
That the amendment (Senator Milne's) be agreed to.
The committee divided. [11.42 pm]
(The Chairman-Senator JJ Hogg)
Ayes............ 8
Noes............ 48
Majority......... 40
AYES
Allison, L.F. Bartlett, A.J.J.
Brown, B.J. Milne, C.
Murray, A.J.M. Nettle, K.
Siewert, R. * Stott Despoja, N.
NOES
Abetz, E. Adams, J.
Barnett, G. Bernardi, C.
Boswell, R.L.D. Brandis, G.H.
Brown, C.L. Campbell, G.
Chapman, H.G.P. Colbeck, R.
Crossin, P.M. Eggleston, A. *
Ellison, C.M. Evans, C.V.
Faulkner, J.P. Ferris, J.M.
Fierravanti-Wells, C. Fifield, M.P.
Forshaw, M.G. Heffernan, W.
Hogg, J.J. Hurley, A.
Johnston, D. Joyce, B.
Kirk, L. Lightfoot, P.R.
Ludwig, J.W. Lundy, K.A.
Marshall, G. Mason, B.J.
McEwen, A. McGauran, J.J.J.
McLucas, J.E. Moore, C.
Nash, F. O'Brien, K.W.K.
Parry, S. Patterson, K.C.
Payne, M.A. Polley, H.
Scullion, N.G. Stephens, U.
Sterle, G. Troeth, J.M.
Watson, J.O.W. Webber, R.
Wong, P. Wortley, D.
* denotes teller
Question negatived.
 
Katrina Willis
Adviser
Senator Christine Milne
Phone 03 6234 4566
Fax 03 6234 2144
Mobile 0437 587 562
www.christinemilne.org.au