[Greens-Media] Rudd off the rails on coal

[Simms, Robert (Sen S. Ludlam)]

Friday, 12 December, 2008

Rudd off the rails on coal 

The Australian Greens Transport Spokesperson, Senator Scott Ludlam says
the Prime Minister's announcement of $580 million dollars to fast track
coal transport is a "horrific use of tax payer funds" and an opportunity
to embrace a 'Green New Deal' has been missed. 

"The Prime Minister's decision to inject more than $500 million dollars
into railways to transport coal from the Hunter Valley to Newcastle is a
disastrous outcome for tax payers and the environment. Once again the
government is using tax payer funds to help the coal industry, despite
the industry being past its used-by date and environmentally
unsustainable," said Senator Ludlam. 

 "The Prime Minister is to be commended for injecting funds into our
nation's decaying regional rail system, but once again, we're not seeing
any investment in city rails. Australians want greener and more
affordable transport options, yet the Rudd government has passed up yet
another opportunity to provide them."

Senator Ludlam says the government needs to change direction. 

"Governments the world over are recognising that you can boost the
economy by investing in initiatives that have an environmental benefit.
Rudd should follow world leaders like UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and
US President-elect Barack Obama in recognising that with a 'Green New
Deal' we can build our way out of the financial meltdown, while
preventing the climate meltdown. It's time for Rudd to get with the
program." 

For more information or media enquiries please call Robert Simms on 0417
174 302


Robert Simms
Media Adviser to
Senator Scott Ludlam
Australian Greens Senator for Western Australia

Sitting weeks: Tel: 02 6277 3467 | Fax: 02 6277 5821 
S1.36, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600

Non-Sitting weeks: Tel: 02 6277 3566 | Fax: 02 6277 3185
SG111, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600

Mobile: 0417 174 302  

www.scottludlam.org.au <http://www.scottludlam.org.au/>