[Greens-Media] MEDIA: Minister's Head in the Shale as Solar Causes Blind Spot

[Chapple, Robin]

Robin Chapple MLC
Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region

MEDIA RELEASE

Minister's Head in the Shale as Solar Causes Blind Spot

Monday 20 May 2013

Robin Chapple MLC, Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region and Greens WA spokesperson on Climate Change and Energy, today slammed the government's continued dogged pursuit of fraccing.

"Minister Nahan revealed his slavish obedience to the government's fossil fuel only mantra, in the ABC's 7:30 WA programme.

"Gas price increases of 300% were foreshadowed - it's more likely that new contracts will see increases at least six-fold over current levels.

"The pie-chart showing 5% as the level of WA's energy currently produced from renewable sources is a damning indictment of this government, and its predecessors, as far as energy policy is concerned.

"The only solution put forward by Minister Nahan was to throw more government resources into helping the internationally discredited hunt for so-called unconventional gas using fraccing, in wilderness areas such as the Canning Basin  - with all the environmental and social dislocation that process brings with it.

"Along with various Cabinet colleagues, he demonstrates a collective blindness to the reality of escalating fossil fuel costs making renewable options like wind and solar look increasingly attractive.

"Just today, there are more reports of cost blowouts for taxpayers in the fiasco that is the Muja coal-fired power station refurbishment.

"Gas supplies from fraccing are decades away, by the government's own rose-coloured forecasts - powering WA from renewables is available far sooner, and cheaper, if the government will just see the light.

"The Greens have demonstrated this with our Energy 2029 plan; surveys show the WA public want solar and wind power; let's do it!", Mr Chapple pleaded.



Energy 2029 plan: http://www.greenswa.net.au/energy2029

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255


All the best

Robin Chapple MLC
Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region
PO Box 94, West Perth WA 6872
41 Havelock Street, West Perth. WA 6005

Phone: (08) 9486 8255 | Email: Robin.Chapple at mp.wa.gov.au<mailto:Robin.Chapple at mp.wa.gov.au>  | Freecall: 1800 138 610 | WEB: http://robinchapple.com/
Our office provides a facility for members of the public to ask their own Parliamentary Questions through my website at http://www.robinchapple.com/ask-question. Questions on Notice are preferred, instructions and templates are provided.
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