[Greens-Media] Costello rebuffs budget offer

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Monday, 8 May 2006

Costello rebuffs budget offer

The Treasurer, Peter Costello, has rebuffed Greens Leader Bob Brown's
offer to brief him on budget measures to meet Australia's growing
climate change liability.

"I offered to brief the Treasurer on badly needed initiatives to gear up
against climate change and its huge economic and social price tag to
Australia," Senator Brown said.

"Climate change looms larger than the financial risk of our ageing
population. Its problems include falling rainfall over our wheatfields,
coastal erosion, extended summer heatwaves, and the spread of tropical
diseases further south."

The options, which can easily be funded by a carbon tax, include better
energy efficiency, renewable energy, public transport and coastal
planning.

"I'm worried by the Treasurer's ecoblinkers. The British Treasurer,
Gordon Browne, referred to climate change 14 times in his latest
budget."

"Mr Costello has not referred to it in his last 10 budgets. He is way
behind overseas recognition of the climate change nemesis and the
growing impact it is having on Australians," Senator Brown said.

Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603


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Ebony Bennett
Media Adviser
Office of Greens Senator Bob Brown
Mobile: 0409 164 603
Ph: (02) 6277 3170
Fax: (02) 6277 3185
ebony.bennett at aph.gov.au