[Greens-Media] Climate chaos in the Senate

[Hollo, Tim (Sen C. Milne)]

Climate chaos in the Senate

Canberra, Thursday 14 February 2008  The Senate descended into climate
chaos today in response to a motion moved by Australian Greens climate
change spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, calling on the Government
to phase out perverse subsidies to the fossil fuel industry and reverse
its decision to cut research funding into climate change science and
renewable energy programs.

Senator Milne said "Anyone who thought a new era on climate had dawned,
with the new Prime Minister saying that 'climate change represents one
of the greatest moral, economic and environmental challenges of our age'
had better think again. At the first test in the first sitting week, the
new Government voted against a motion to prioritise climate programs
above fossil fuel subsidies.

"While Labor was very clear this morning that it has no intention of
prioritising climate initiatives over fossil fuel subsidies, the
Coalition's confusion nearly embarrassed both sides by letting my motion
pass.

"The motion was carried 'on the voices', with Labor's Senator O'Brien
the sole opposing voice against the Greens and Democrats. The Government
then called a division to force the Coalition to make a decision.
Several minutes into the division, many Liberal Senators had moved
across to vote with the Greens and Democrats to reprioritise climate
over fossil fuel subsidies, but rapid footwork by Senator Minchin came
to the rescue of the oil and coal industries, forcing the Senators back
to the Opposition benches."

The text of the motion is appended on the reverse of this release.

"This comes after Climate Change Minister Penny Wong yesterday played a
dead bat in Question Time, refusing to say what degree of global warming
the Australian Government believes poses too great a risk of
catastrophic climate change.

"She kept clinging to Labor's 2050 emissions target of 60% below 2000
levels, which she must now know will not constrain global temperature
rises to below 2C given the tremendous increase in emissions and the
progress of the science since that target was first set. To prevent
catastrophic climate change, a much more stringent target is required."

Contact: Tim Hollo on 0437 587 562

Notice of Motion, 14 February 2008

I move -

That the Senate:

a) Notes that:

(i)	 In December 2007 the Prime Minster Kevin Rudd said that his
Government believed that "climate change represents one of the greatest
moral, economic and environmental challenges of our age".

(ii)	 Last week the Finance Minister, Lindsay Tanner, announced
funding cuts to climate related programs including $3m from the CSIRO
Research Vessel Southern Surveyor; $6m from the Biodiversity Hotspots
program and $42m from the Renewable Remote Power Generation Program.

(iii) 	Last year the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the
University of Technology in Sydney calculated that perverse subsidies
supporting fossil fuel industries amounted to between $6.4b and $7.2b in
2005/06.

b) 	Calls on the Government to phase out perverse subsidies to the
fossil fuel industry and to reverse its decision to cut funding to
research into climate change science and renewable energy programs. 



Senator Milne


Tim Hollo
Media and Communications Adviser
Senator Christine Milne
Phone: + 61 (0) 2 6277 3063
Mobile: + 61 (0) 437 587 562
Email: tim.hollo at aph.gov.au
Skype: timhollo

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