[Greens-Media] Victory for polluters in renewables target deal but target still vital

[Hollo, Tim (Sen C. Milne)]

Victory for polluters in renewables target deal but target still vital

Wednesday 19 August 2009

The Government and Opposition agreement to pollute the renewable energy
target instead of greening it up turns a celebration into a
disappointment, the Australian Greens said today.

Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, challenged
both old parties to support her amendment, to be moved this afternoon,
that would prevent polluters making windfall profits under the bill.

"The renewable energy target is vital for the survival and future growth
of this critical zero emissions industry, so it is a deep disappointment
that the Government and Opposition have made a dirty deal to pollute
it," Senator Milne said.

"The Government has passed over an opportunity with this bill to give an
unequivocal boost to the clean, clever renewable energy industry.

"Instead of working with the Greens to make sure polluters don't get
windfall profits from their exemptions and to ensure that Gunns and
others cannot get renewable energy credits for burning Australia's
native forests, the Government has chosen to reward the Opposition for
their bad behaviour and sandbag polluters even further.

"Today's dirty deal not only gives polluters the same free ride under
the renewable energy target as the Government wanted to give them under
the fatally flawed Continue Polluting Regardless Scheme, but opens the
door to even more exemptions for energy guzzlers.

"Every Australian should remember that this deal to exempt polluters
from the renewable energy target puts the full bill for moving to the
renewably-powered economy into the pockets of the community, letting
polluters benefit from the shift while bearing none of the cost.

"The Greens are determined to bring on the renewable energy target, but
we will nevertheless move amendments to challenge the Government and
Opposition.

"Will the Government and Opposition vote to give renewable energy
credits to Gunns for their native forest furnace at the planned pulp
mill?

"Will the Government and Opposition vote to allow polluters to make
windfall profits if, as models predict, wholesale energy prices fall
thanks to the renewable energy target they are exempt from meeting.

"It's a sad day when what should have been a celebration for renewable
energy in Australia turns into another field day for polluters."


Tim Hollo
Media Adviser
Senator Christine Milne | Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Climate
Change Spokesperson
Suite SG-112 Parliament House, Canberra ACT | P: 02 6277 3588 | M: 0437
587 562
http://www.christinemilne.org.au/| www.GreensMPs.org.au
<http://www.greensmps.org.au/> 



	
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