[Greens-Media] A budget for climate change sceptics

[John Kaye]

A budget for climate change sceptics
 
Media Release: 19 June 2007
 
Greens MP and NSW Treasury spokesperson John Kaye condemned the 2007/08
state budget for providing more in land tax cuts for wealthy property
investors than for mitigating dangerous climate change and for
committing $1.9 billion to the Kurnell desalination plant.
 
Climate Change Failure
 
Dr Kaye said: “Morris Iemma says he is committed to tackling dangerous
climate change, but this Budget is another slap in the face for future
generations.
 
“The meagre commitment of $77.5 million a year for a Climate Change
Fund is swamped by land tax cuts worth $117 million which will do
nothing to assist first home-buyers.
 
“Meanwhile, yet another massive outlay of $1.9 billion on roads will
lead to more cars, further accelerating NSW’s greenhouse gas emissions.
 
“The budget was a victory for notorious climate change sceptic Michael
Costa and his ‘browns’ allies in cabinet who have successfully subverted
efforts to address global warming. 
 
“In response to a Greens question in parliament last week, the
Treasurer admitted that the government had done no modelling of the
economic impact of climate change, nor did they have any plans to. They
are flying blind into very stormy weather. 
 
“Morris Iemma needs to get serious about climate change. This Budget
ignores the most critical moral and political problem facing NSW and
Australia,” Dr Kaye said.
 
Irrational desalination commitment 
 
Dr Kaye said: “Even as the Treasurer announced funding for the
desalination plant, yet more rain fell in the Warragamba catchment.
 
“The Treasurer spent much of his speech boasting about his government’s
‘responsible financial management’, yet he has committed the state to
spending money on a massive white elephant.
 
“By the end of the week the Iemma government’s economic credentials are
going to look very shabby if, as predicted, storage levels climb over
the 50% mark. The Treasurer will learn about the meaning of stranded
assets and the opportunity cost of capital. 
 
“This is another example of a project from a government that does not
take climate change seriously,” Dr Kaye said.
 
For more information:John Kaye 0407 195 455 
 
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John Kaye
Greens member of the NSW Parliament
phone: (02) 9230 2668
fax: (02) 9230 2586
mobile: 0407 195 455
email: John.Kaye at parliament.nsw.gov.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000