[Greens-Media] Greens back coal crisis action

[Susie Gemmell]

MEDIA RELEASE
30 April 2007

Greens back coal crisis action 


Following today’s Coal Crisis Summit at NSW Parliament House, where
key environment groups agreed to a united campaign to stop the proposed
expansion of the coal industry in NSW, Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said the
Greens will support direct action to oppose the catastrophic impacts for
climate change posed by new coal mines. 

"The Greens will act with the environment movement and local residents
and industries to stop the coal tide and resolve this crisis," said Ms
Rhiannon. 

"We will construct a sustained campaign of lobbying, rallies and
peaceful protests to galvanise public support. 

"The campaign will focus on the Newcastle coal loader and the Anvil
Hill coal mine and include a series of actions in the Hunter, Western,
Gunnedah and Southern Coalfields.  The first action will take place on
2-3 June at Anvil Hill.
 
"It is criminal that at a time when the government should be moving
towards a massive expansion of renewable energy it plans to rachet up
the coal industry instead.

"The increase of Newcastle’s coal handling capacity to over 200
million tonnes of coal per year is a doubling of the world’s largest
coal port.

"This increase will facilitate the runaway expansion of new coal mines
in the Upper Hunter and in the Gunnedah coal basin.

"NSW Labor’s continued affair with the coal industry flies in the
face of clear evidence from the scientific community that coal is a key
climate change culprit. 

"This dance with the coal industry makes a mockery of Premier Iemma’s
recent appointment of a Minister for Climate Change.

"The anticipated approval of the Anvil Hill coal mine symbolises the
government’s complete disregard for its responsibility to take action
to cut greenhouse emissions. 

"It is imperative that the Iemma government weans itself off its
addiction to coal.

"The government should immediately invest in renewable energy
industries to encourage a jobs rich economy and cut the greenhouse gas
emissions which are having such a catastrophic impact on our planet,”
Ms Rhiannon said


For more information: Greens MP Lee Rhiannon, 0427 861 568



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Susie Gemmell
Adviser, Greens MLC Lee Rhiannon (p/t Mon, Thur, Fri)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Tel: +61-2-9230 3551 Fax: +61-2-9230 3550
Mobile:  0431 458 102
Email   susie.gemmell at parliament.nsw.gov.au
Web    www.leerhiannon.org.au