[Greens-Media] Rethink needed on coal exports, not port bottlenecks

[Hollo, Tim (Sen C. Milne)]

Wednesday, 11 April 2007

Rethink needed on coal exports, not port bottlenecks

The real tragedy about Australia's ports is the 36.5 million tonnes of
CO2 that will belch into the atmosphere after the 153 ships waiting off
Australia's east coast export 14 million tonnes coal to be burnt, Greens
Climate Change Spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, said today.

"The coal from the 153 ships will release 36.5 million tonnes of CO2
into the atmosphere when burnt, making a mockery of the 800,000 tonnes
of CO2 saved if Malcolm Turnbull changes every light bulb in Australia,"
Senator Milne said.

"It is extraordinary to see Mr Howard and Mr Rudd bemoaning delays in
exporting coal from Australia while grandstanding on climate change.
Neither of them can be trusted to tackle climate change while they
support its biggest causes - burning coal and logging Australia's
old-growth forests.

"How can Mr Howard stand with a straight face and say he'll raise coal
export bottlenecks at COAG, when only hours earlier he boasted of
putting climate change on the meeting's agenda?

"How can Mr Rudd expect to meet his targets for reducing greenhouse
emissions if he parrots Mr Howard's line on coal exports?

"It is vital to remember that both the old parties voted down the
Greens' bill to set legally binding targets for reducing greenhouse gas
emissions, increasing renewable energy and implementing energy
efficiency targets. Neither of them really takes climate change
seriously."

For more information or interviews, please contact Tim Hollo on 0437 587
562


Tim Hollo
Media and Communications Adviser
Senator Christine Milne
Phone: + 61 3 6224 8899 (Hobart)
Phone: + 61 2 6277 3063 (Canberra)
Mobile: + 61 437 587 562
Email: tim.hollo at aph.gov.au
Skype: timhollo
Website: www.christinemilne.org.au