Three down, another to go: Drop the attack on Renewable Energy Target

Now that the community and the Parliament have forced the Abbott Government to back down on its backward and ideological policies attacking the sick, our universities, students and pensioners, it's time to intensify the campaign and force the Prime Minister to drop the attack on renewable energy, Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne said today.

"Minister Macfarlane asks who is creating the RET uncertainty now? There is only one answer. You are," said Senator Milne.

"Trying to spread blame is a political ploy to give cover to the Abbott Government and should not be entertained by anyone who wants a strong Renewable Energy Target.

"No one else in the parliament or in the renewable energy sector is responsible for the mess that Prime Minister Abbott has created to protect the profits of his mates in the fossil fuel industry.

"The RET was delivering jobs and investment around Australia, and bringing down the pollution that's causing global warming, but Prime Minister Abbott proactively set out to destroy it.

"It's another bad cut that protects the big end of town - another cut we must make the Prime Minister back down on," said Senator Milne.

"The roar to the Liberals from the community is ‘dump this RET slashing barnacle' with the rest. Your ideological game is up.

"Confidence would be restored tomorrow if the Prime Minister locked the government into maintaining the 41,000GWh RET now, and out to 2020, beyond the next election.

"Now is the time to redouble our efforts to force another Abbott Government backdown. They've made a mess of renewable energy, the way they did with Medicare and uni fees, and we can make them clean it up."