GreensMPs

Christine Milne to open HortExpo

JeffDonne — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:14:35 +1000

Greens Deputy Leader Christine Milne will officially open this year's HortExpo. It's happening at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Hobart on the 5th of August, and is part of a national conference aimed at uniting Australia's fruit growers. The ‘Growing our Future' conference runs from the 3rd to the 6th of August, and the HortExpo day offers plenty for the experienced grower or those just starting out. Field demonstrations will show best practices for cherry and pom fruit growers, and for those seeking the secrets of a successful horticultural venture, there's lots of research presentations from many of our top growers.

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

Cool it on fridge gases, urges Milne

TimHollo — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:29:11 +1000

Senate passes motion on emissions cost modelling

TimHollo — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:28:16 +1000

Delay in bills to block changes to quarantine fees

TimHollo — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:27:00 +1000

Export fee hikes to go ahead

TimHollo — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:26:09 +1000

Carbon scheme vote put off until August

TimHollo — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:25:24 +1000

Greens broker horticulture export deal

TimHollo — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:22:23 +1000

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.