Media Releases

North West Coast Needs Strategic Planning and Structural Adjustment

TimHollo — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:01:14 +1000

Senator Christine Milne has welcomed news of 500 North West paper mill workers keeping their jobs while PaperlinX makes decisions about the company's future. She says the reprieve gives an opportunity to plan for innovative and sustainable employment in the region.

"Today's announcement has at least given the people of the North West a short reprieve, but it is critical that any findings impacting the lives of local workers and their families be made as soon as a decision is made."

"The human dimension of plant closure is always unconsidered in boardrooms as workers and families struggle to pay bills and find jobs."

Senator Milne said it is time Tasmania considers strategic planning and structural adjustment in the North West.

"The time has come to move on from the old boom and bust way of life that's dogged the people of the North West for decades."

"We need a strategic plan to see the communities on the North West Coast underpinned by sustainable and creative employment opportunities that in the long term build greater resilience against downturns."

"A strategic plan for the region would see a big increase in public transport to better links among North West communities, and substantially improve access to vital health services."

"Retraining and new careers are all possible if we boost funding for the University's Cradle Coast campus."

"Plus expanding a commitment to renewable energy technology and installation will soak up unemployment like a sponge if given the funds and attention it deserves."

"The North West Coast will never prosper if governments continually react to what global corporations dictate. Rather we should plan with the people in the region, for the region, with our sights fixed on the creation of a sustainable future with sustainable jobs."

"It is now up to all parliamentarians, state and federal, to get behind structural adjustment for the region. To see this pattern of boom and bust become the problem of past generations."

For more information phone Jeff Donne 03 6224 8899

Milne brokers solution to AQIS export rebate mess

TimHollo — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:24:52 +1000

The Australian Greens have brokered an agreement with the Agriculture Minister over the mess caused by the lapsing of the 40% subsidy to primary producers to assist with the costs of compliance with export protocols.

Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, today deferred her motion to disallow the regulations and tabled a letter from Agriculture Minister, Tony Burke, setting out the agreement reached.

"I am delighted to have been able to help find a solution to the mess caused by the Government and Opposition's failure to reform the Quarantine Service to date," Senator Milne said.

"Instead of subsidising inefficiencies at the Quarantine Service, instead of forcing export growers to pay for those inefficiencies, we are now working towards positive long-term solutions for growers and for AQIS.

"I have been very concerned that the 40% cost hike would damage some industries, but I didn't want to hold up the reform agenda for those many industries - meat, grain, dairy, fish and live exports - which had come to agreement with the Minister.

"I understand that some in the horticulture industry are already on their knees and do not want to pay another cent if they can possibly avoid it, but we desperately need a reform agenda for AQIS to reduce costs in the long term. For those few who still disagree, I ask them to accept some short term pain for undeniable long-term gain.

"In the absence of a consensus position in the industry, I have had to make a judgement call on the best outcome I could facilitate that would be in the long-term interests of Australia's export horticulturalists without thwarting the aspirations of other sectors.

"Apple, pear, cherry and stone fruit growers in Tasmania have been hit hard by the costs of accessing high compliance-cost markets on top of the global financial crisis and extreme weather events, but they still want reform.

"They would not have been able to absorb the 40% increase in cost with no reforms or efficiencies at AQIS in sight.

"The agreement I have reached with the Minister should make the transition easier.

"Under this agreement, half of the $2.5 million for the horticulture sector will go to the reform agenda and the other half will still be used for rebates, spread across 12 months to cater for the seasonal nature of the industry and make sure no-one misses out.

"The Minister has agreed to a clear timeframe for the development and delivery of the reform agenda."

The disallowance motion remains on the Senate books until the Minister's commitments are delivered.

The Minister's letter is available here.

Government votes against its own policy

TimHollo — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:36:30 +1000

The Government today voted against its own policy to introduce a greenhouse gas trigger into the Environment Planning and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC), on a motion moved by the Australian Greens.

"The climate crisis is an over-riding environmental issue, so it simply stands to reason that greenhouse emissions of proposed developments should be assessed," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

"The Labor Party acknowledged this by promising to insert a greenhouse trigger into the EPBC and making it part of the environmental platform for the last two elections.

"How extraordinary that, now they are in Government, Labor is willing to jettison so many of their environmental promises."

A greenhouse trigger would ensure that any proposed development with major greenhouse gas emissions implications would automatically have to be assessed under Commonwealth environmental assessment processes.

The motion reads:

That the Senate calls on the Government to implement its policy to insert a greenhouse trigger into the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Senate calls on Government to model 40% cuts

TimHollo — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:03:20 +1000

The Senate today passed a motion calling on the Government to model the cost of achieving greenhouse emissions cuts of 40% below 1990 levels by 2020 and present the results for the next sitting of the Senate.

The Australian Greens motion passed with the support of the Opposition, but opposed by the Government.

The Government must now ensure that this modelling is done or explain why the Senate should pass the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme when the Government refuses to do appropriate modelling.

"How extraordinary that the Opposition would join with the Greens in calling for modelling of truly effective targets, while the Government continues to prefer studied ignorance," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

"There is very good evidence that moving for the strongest possible emissions cuts actually reduces the long-run costs to the economy because we learn faster and make fewer short-sighted investments.

"Why does the Government not even want to know what the economic costs of 40% cuts would be? What are they afraid of?

"With no chance the CPRS will pass the Senate this week, the Government must spend the winter working hard on solutions to the deadlock they created with their ill-thought-out plans.

"If the Government returns in August without having conducted this modelling, they will only raise more questions instead of providing a solution."

The motion reads:

That the Senate calls on the Government to task the Department of the Treasury with modelling the cost of achieving greenhouse gas emission cuts of 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 and to present the information to the Senate by 11 August 2009.

Feed-in tariff bill to enter House, petition tabled; Support becoming impossible to ignore

TimHollo — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:38:46 +1000

Support for a gross national feed-in tariff for renewable energy is growing rapidly to the point where the Government will soon no longer be able to dismiss it.

Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, will today table a petition from over 17,000 Australians calling on the Parliament to implement a gross national feed-in tariff to give renewable energy technologies the support they deserve.

Independent MP for Lyne, Rob Oakeshott, will also announce today that he will introduce Senator Milne's Private Member's Bill for a feed-in tariff into the House of Representatives.

These moves come in the wake of the Government's latest slap in the face to the renewable energy sector, with the abolition this week of the Remote Regional Power Generation program.

"A gross national feed-in tariff for renewable energy is the obvious and proven way to bring on the transformation to zero emissions energy," Senator Milne said.

"By giving certainty to anyone who wants to invest in renewable energy, of all sources and all sizes, we would swiftly bring renewables to the point where they can challenge coal's dominance.

"I'm thrilled to be tabling this petition today which shows the extraordinary level of public support for renewable energy and the best policy to bring it on.

"And I'm delighted that Rob Oakeshott is adopting my Bill for a feed-in tariff and introducing it into the House of Representatives.

"After the expressions of in principle support for a feed-in from both sides of the Senate, Mr Oakeshott's adoption of my Bill shows that good policy on renewable energy can get support across the country and across political divides.

"With NSW yesterday joining other states in introducing a greenwash feed-in tariff, that will only support net energy generated by small rooftop solar panels, it is time the Commonwealth stepped in to introduce a real scheme that will pay a premium rate for all energy generated from all renewable sources and technologies.

"It is becoming clear that the Government's only reason for opposing a feed-in tariff is that they know it would actually work to get renewable energy technologies onto a level playing field where they can and will challenge coal.

"The Government is bending over backwards to provide certainty to coal, but seems determined to undermine any certainty for renewable energy."

The petition, organised by Energy Matters, can be found at www.FeedInTariff.com.au

Greens working for solution to AQIS export rebate mess

TimHollo — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:50:32 +1000

The Australian Greens are working with the Agriculture Minister and industry representatives to develop an appropriate solution to the mess caused by the lapsing of the 40% subsidy to primary producers to assist with the costs of compliance with export protocols.

Rather than use the blunt instrument of a disallowance motion which would disadvantage some industry sectors, the Greens are working to reach an agreement on a reform agenda to reduce long-term costs for growers, with dates for implementation, whilst ensuring ongoing assistance to cushion the impact of changes in the middle of the global economic downturn.

"Instead of subsidising inefficiencies at the Quarantine Service, we need to be working towards positive solutions for growers," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

"It is reprehensible that this subsidy has been in place since 2001 but, in eight years neither the Howard nor Rudd Governments have made any attempt to put efficiencies in place at AQIS to reduce costs to growers.

"It should be remembered that the Coalition had agreed to let this subsidy lapse while in Government and are now riding in with the blunt instrument of a disallowance instead of working towards a solution.

"The Government should be commended for the commitment of $40 million to reduce costs to growers, and for reaching agreement with most industry sectors over a reform agenda and proposed changes to the fee schedule.

"The Greens have no intention of standing in the way of this positive progress, but we also will not stand idly by while the horticulture sector is disadvantaged.

"Unlike in the dairy, grain and other sectors, there is no consensus amongst exporters in the horticulture sector about how to proceed. These are growers hit hard by drought who need assistance, particularly in these difficult economic times.

"Citrus growers in the Riverine and Riverland, as well as apple, pear, cherry and stone fruit growers in Tasmania are a case in point.

"They cannot absorb the 40% increase in cost with no reforms or efficiencies at AQIS in sight.

"I hold out great hope that we can come to an agreement with the Minister and the industry for a positive solution to this before my disallowance motion comes up for a vote tomorrow."

ACCI will be left behind by innovative small businesses

TimHollo — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:43:29 +1000

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is failing to represent innovative and forward-thinking small and medium sized enterprises, the Australian Greens said today.

"Thousands of businesses across Australia are leaving ACCI behind by investing in energy efficiency, reducing their costs and their emissions," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

"ACCI is just another rent-seeker focussing entirely on the costs of climate action instead of embracing the opportunities of transforming Australia into a zero emissions powerhouse.

"It is myopic in the extreme to suggest effectively that the only way businesses will be able to reduce costs increased by the CPRS will be to lay off staff or cut wages.

"Has ACCI even spoken to the businesses across the country who are reducing their costs and increasing custom by moving to a green base?

"All those small and medium sized businesses building themselves up around the solar industry, insulation services and other sectors that will flourish in a zero emissions economy are being shunted to the back of the queue by ACCI.

"Where is ACCI's defence of all those small businesses in solar installation who have been treated like a political football by the Government?

"If ACCI refuses to move into the 21st century, it will be left behind by its members."

Cat and mouse games with solar sector must stop

TimHollo — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:18:42 +1000

The Rudd Government must stop playing cat and mouse games with the solar sector and provide certainty to all renewable technologies with a national gross feed-in tariff, the Australian Greens said today.

The abolition of the scheme supporting remote solar power is the latest in a trail of destruction the Rudd Government has left in its wake, following the means testing of the solar rebate, the rebate's overnight abolition without an effective replacement, the ill-thought-out solar credits scheme and the repeated refusal to support the Greens' bill for a gross feed-in tariff.

"The Rudd Government is playing with the solar industry like a cat with a mouse, using it as a plaything to be tossed aside after the photo shoot," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

"The Government is bending over backwards to provide certainty to the coal sector and other polluters, but seems to be doing everything in its power to undermine certainty for solar and other renewables.

"The best way to provide certainty for investors in renewable energy is to bring in a feed-in tariff that will guarantee a premium price for all renewable energy generated for a fixed period.

"A feed-in is tamper-proof - Governments can't pull the rug out from under renewables on a whim if a feed-in tariff is in place."

Senator Milne first revealed the funding problems with the remote power generation solar scheme in Estimates hearings last month as per the revealing transcript below.

Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts Legislation Committee, Estimates Hearings, 28/05/2009

Senator «MILNE» -I will not be very long. I wanted to ask a couple of questions about the Renewable Remote Power Generation Program. Could you give me an outline of where that program is up to and why the major projects and industries support and the island territories support has been suspended?

...

Mr Carter-The general overview is that the RRPGP funds have been becoming fully committed in different aspects. We have seen quite an increase, and this goes across a number of the sub-elements of the program, particularly as you recall with the price of fuel increasing quite dramatically in the latter part of last year. That generated quite a bit of additional interest in the program and raised application rates. The program is quite a complex one and has a number of subcomponents. As each of those subcomponents has approached being fully committed, we have been monitoring that closely, advising the minister's office about that, and if it was getting to a point where it was fully committed then suspending that particular element of the program as the funds were committed in that area.

Senator «MILNE»-What is left in the Renewable Remote Power Generation Program? Is it all coming to an end now or just those ones I just mentioned? What is the current status of the program? When is it due to run out? Are you re-funding any aspects of it in this coming financial year?

Mr Young-The program does have a continued allocation of funds in 2010-11 and they are shown in the portfolio budget statements. That funding reflects the previous forward estimates for the program. You were asking about the major projects and industry support subprograms.

Senator «MILNE» -I was asking what is left in this financial year for a start, and then we will come back to the specific components.

Mr Young-In relation to the original part of RRPGP, that had a budget of $205 million. Of that, over $188 million has been committed to subprograms, major projects and industry support activities, and $152 million of that was spent up to the end of March 2009. Of the extension budget, or the RRPGP2 budget, of $95 million, to date $27 million has been spent.

...

Senator «MILNE»-So $27 million has been spent. There are a number of applications in. You had a possible $68 million or thereabouts to expend. Are you saying that the applications that have gone in will probably exceed $68 million once you have assessed them?

Mr Young -We are not yet at that stage, but we are keeping a very close eye on the situation.

Senator «MILNE»-I take from what you are saying that you have a series of applications in. If they turned out to tick all the boxes in terms of applications, you have probably got to the point now where the whole program would be expended if you were to approve the ones you have got in?

Mr Young -We are keeping a close eye on that situation. The program does continue to be open.

Senator «MILNE»-Which part of the program continues to be open? Are the major projects and industry support open or only the residential and medium scale?

Mr Young-It is the latter part. The major projects subprogram was suspended in September 2008 because there were sufficient applications in place there to commit all the available funds. The residential and medium subprogram continues to accept applications except in the island territories, where applications have now got to the stage of reaching the level of funds available there.

Senator «MILNE»-We have reached the end of the funding for the Renewable Remote Power Generation Program; is that right? Is there anything in the forward estimates beyond this financial year other than what you have told me?

Mr Young -No.

Senator «MILNE»-So it is phasing out. Could you explain to me what people in rural and remote areas are now going to do to fund major projects that they might have or in the island territories or anywhere else? Are they on their own now?

Mr Carter-The program is not yet fully committed, but once it is fully committed there is no more funding provided for currently in that program to meet those requirements. For people who are still looking at putting in those installations-and this is an issue for the Department of Climate Change-the mandatory renewable energy target does provide for «solar» credits, so that will be something that will be available beyond the end of this program.

Senator «MILNE» -Basically, this is the end of this program and then we go into the RET when that comes in, as a way of funding those programs. Is that what you are saying?

Mr Carter -That would be how the landscape looks at the moment, yes.

Mr Young-I might just make one additional remark. With the number of applications still in the pipeline, those which are preapproved and not yet installed, and those which have been received and are still being assessed, there will be quite a significant amount of work to be undertaken in the coming months.

Senator «MILNE»-I understood from what you were saying that they are in the assessment process and that money will be expended on those in due course. In terms of the 1,000 megawatts for up to four installations, will that be something that you will be supervising?

Mr Carter -No. This is the Clean Energy initiative.

Senator «MILNE» -You will not be administering that, it will be administered elsewhere?

Mr Carter -Yes. My understanding is that it is within the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism.

Senator «MILNE» -What responsibility for renewables will your department have once this program phases out? Will it just be the household scale?

Senator Wong -I am sorry, I missed that.

Senator «MILNE»-Once the Renewable Remote Power Generation Program concludes, apart from the household level which we have been discussing, is that the only scale at which this department will have oversight henceforth as it currently stands?

Mr Carter -As it currently stands, yes.

Senator Wong-With the existing administrative orders, as you would recall, the Renewable Energy Fund was also in Minister Ferguson's portfolio.

Senator «MILNE» -Yes. I am just trying to work out where it is all going next.

Mr Carter -The National «Solar» Schools Program remains with the department, as does the «solar» homes and communities plan and «solar» hot water. It is directly largely at the schools and household level.

Senator «MILNE» -I would like to go to «solar» systems. You may need to take this on notice. I would be very interested to know, under all particular programs, what the total federal government funding for «solar» systems has been through the rural and remote program, plus R&D, commercialisation funds and so on. Would you be able to provide, on notice, an aggregate figure for the level of Commonwealth support for «solar» systems?

Mr Young -Certainly. We will take that on notice and consult with our colleagues in other departments who have also supported that company.

CHAIR -We need to wind up in a few minutes for dinner. Senator Birmingham has some questions.

Senator «MILNE» -I will put the last couple on notice.

Renewable Energy Target legislation should be debated, not delayed

TimHollo — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:09:09 +1000

Lifting the Renewable Energy Target as high and as fast as possible will unleash of wave of investment, jobs creation and emissions reductions that we cannot afford to delay, the Australian Greens said today.

The Greens called for a snap inquiry into the Renewable Energy Target legislation, allowing for the bill to be passed next week, instead of the delay over winter imposed by the Opposition and Independent Senators this morning.

"There is a wave of renewable energy projects waiting to be unleashed as soon as this legislation passes, so let's get a move on," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne said.

"We urgently need to give renewable energy innovators and investors the certainty they need to begin work immediately creating jobs and reducing emissions.

"The Greens want a short inquiry, improvements to the Bill, and then a decisive step towards the renewable future.

"Senator Fielding presumably wants a delay to examine the links between solar flares and solar panels, and the Opposition wants a delay to help their big polluting mates. But I cannot explain why Senator Xenophon supported this unnecessary and damaging delay."

The Greens are proposing amendments to the legislation to
• lift the target to truly ambitious levels;
• remove the exemption for big polluters;
• fix the 'phantom credits problem created by the ill-thought-out solar multiplier; and
• tighten the definition of renewable energy to exclude native forest biomass, solar water heating and heat pumps.

"The unpleasant and unfortunate political games being played around the renewable energy legislation are entirely the fault of the Government.

"Had they not tried to wedge the Opposition by linking the target to the CPRS, the Government would now be looking at strong Senate support for this legislation.

"The climate crisis is not a political game! It is way past time to get serious and do what needs to be done."

Milne delivers climate challenge at Press Club; warns of Wong's 'white flag' legacy

TimHollo — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:33:59 +1000

Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne today delivered a clear ultimatum to the Rudd Government and the global community.

"We must do what the climate crisis demands and move to zero emissions fast, or face consequences that cannot be accepted," Senator Milne said.

"The fact is we cannot keep a safe climate and keep burning coal, oil and gas, and logging our forests. One or the other must go.

"That we may be undone by the refusal, for what ever reason, to believe that another world is possible was demonstrated again this week, with Minister Wong saying: 'going further is not possible without causing economic disruption - if it is possible at all.'

"Minister Wong, do you really want "running up the white flag" to be your legacy?"

Senator Milne noted that the Government's climate target would give us a 50-90% chance of breaching 2C warming risk triggering a climate nightmare.

"50 to 90%. Would you put your son or daughter on an aeroplane if you knew that it had a 50-90% chance of crashing? If not, why would you take that risk with the whole planet?"

Senator Milne also set out a positive vision for transforming Australia to a zero emissions powerhouse, creating jobs and improving our well-being as a community.

"Committing to delivering a safe climate means embracing the massive challenge of moving to zero emissions fast, frees you up to unleash human creativity in a wave unlike anything we've seen.

"Just as in 1989 we could not imagine the world of the iPhone and Blackberry, in the next 20 years we can and will create something that now seems impossible."