STANDING COMMITTEE ON ECONOMICS
(Senate-Thursday, 23 October 2008)

INNOVATION, INDUSTRY, SCIENCE AND RESEARCH PORTFOLIO - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

STANDING COMMITTEE ON RURAL AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS AND TRANSPORT
(Senate-Tuesday, 21 October 2008)

Infrastructure Australia

STANDING COMMITTEE ON RURAL AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS AND TRANSPORT
(Senate-Tuesday, 21 October 2008)

Australian Rail Track Corporation

Senator MILNE» -Do you have a problem with accepting 600 metre short- haul trains to Port Botany on the South Sydney line when it is completed?

Mr Marchant -Intellectually no; it has never been an issue raised with us.

Senator «MILNE» -I understand in the past you have stated to rail operators that you are only interested in long-haul or interstate trains of 1,500 to 1,800 metres; is that the case?

STANDING COMMITTEE ON RURAL AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS AND TRANSPORT
(Senate-Tuesday, 21 October 2008)

National Transport Strategy

Senator «MILNE» -In relation to transport strategy, I am interested to know how you are taking into account climate change and peak oil in terms of sensitivity analysis and investment in the various sectors and whether that is bringing forward coastal shipping as a better freight option than road transport.

In excellent news this morning, The Age reports that Christine Milne's amendments to the Luxury Car Tax, exempting fuel efficient vehicles from the levy, are already having an impact!

Ian Porter writes:

Australia is leading the world with the fastest rising greenhouse emissions in the developed world, growing at 2% a year, according to a study released by the Global Carbon Project today.

The Greens are calling on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to focus on opportunities to reduce emissions now, such as energy efficiency, renewable energy and protecting forests, instead of making Australia the world hub for an experimental technology to clean up coal in 10-15 years time, if ever.

The Greens have won a significant victory towards making greener cars cheaper for all Australians today by negotiating amendments to the Luxury Car Tax.

Australian Greens Senator Christine Milne successfully negotiated amendments to exempt cars with a fuel efficiency of 7L per 100km and a value up to $75,000 from the full value of the tax - and the Greens will also support tax concessions to protect farmers and tourism operators.

Senator MILNE» (Tasmania) (1:52 PM) -I rise to support this amendment. When this matter of the luxury car tax was first raised, I made it very clear that it is my view that income redistribution should occur through the income tax system.

Senator MILNE» (Tasmania) (5:29 PM) -It is interesting to hear Senator Abetz describing Senator Cameron as old-fashioned. In fact, I would have thought Senator Cameron is rather cutting-edge given that the Bush administration has just defied the capitalist ethic and bailed out, in what can only be described as a public purse rescue, the corporate sector with billions and billions of dollars. I have not heard too much about ‘let the market operate by itself', ‘small government' or ‘no regulation'. I have not heard any of that!