[Greens-Media] Renewable energy is the cure for mini-budget woes

[John Kaye]

Renewable energy is the cure for mini-budget woes
 
Media release: 10 November 2008
 
The Rees government's obsession with preserving the state's AAA credit
rating and selling the electricity industry will hamstring NSW's economy
and lengthen the recession, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.
 
Dr Kaye said: "The Rees government is ignoring the growing global
consensus that public borrowing to invest in greening the economy is the
best way to boost jobs, shorten the downturn and build a strong economic
base.
 
"Global leaders from US President-elect Barack Obama to French
President Nicolas Sarkozy have recognised the need to increase
government investment in renewable energy to kick start new industries
and create sustainable jobs. 
 
"Instead of using the mini-budget to address both the looming recession
and climate change, the Rees Government is stuck in a 1980's
cost-cutting time warp.
 
"Contracting government expenditure on the whim of discredited rating
agencies will lengthen and deepen the recession in NSW, by withdrawing
badly needed cash from the state's economy. 
 
"A slash-and-burn mini-budget will destroy jobs and leave the state
emerging from the downturn with no capacity to take advantage of the new
global economy.
 
"On the other hand a large scale boost to state investment in renewable
energy, public transport and energy efficiency would create jobs and
place the state in a stronger position to take advantage of the economic
recovery.
 
"Nathan Rees, Eric Roozendaal and Joe Tripodi are out of step with
global mainstream opinion including the Rudd government, Japanese Prime
Minister Taro Aso, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation forum, the International Energy Agency and
Macquarie Bank.
 
"Along with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon they are calling for a
'green New Deal' to reshape the global economy on a sustainable energy
footing.
 
"NSW risks being left behind by other states and countries that are
making the leap. 
 
"Everyone from Professor Ross Garnaut to the International Energy
Agency is pointing out that ‘business as usual' is a dead end option,"
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
web: www.johnkaye.org.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000