Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, today wrote to Premier David Bartlett welcoming his commitment to holding a summit on alleviating the impact of fuel prices on Tasmanians and offering her expertise and participation.

Senator Milne said, "Tasmanians hurt by the cost of transport and facing the prospect of ever-increasing fuel prices need real, urgent relief, and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss with the Premier the best options for providing this relief.

You know the message is starting to get through when Kerry O'Brien on ABC's 7.30 Report opens an interview with the Prime Minister by saying "isn't it time to look Australians in the eye and tell them the news is only going to get worse on oil?"

Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, today called on Prime Minister Rudd to commence an urgent COAG process to bring on fast mass transit alternatives for Australian commuters and relieve the mounting pressure on household budgets.

Senator Milne said "Australians stuck in traffic today and stretching household budgets to pay for petrol are sick and tired of the nonsense non-solutions being promoted by both the old parties.

STANDING COMMITTEE ON ECONOMICS

Discussion
02/06/08

Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, expressed outrage at the deliberate time-wasting by Liberal Senator David Johnston and others in Estimates hearings on climate change tonight.

Senator Milne said, "It beggars belief that Senator Johnston could waste a full three quarters of an hour of vital hearings about an issue of global importance asking pointless and offensive questions about the details of Professor Garnaut's personal employment contract.

The former head of ABARE, Dr Brian Fisher, famously said that, if prices are high enough, roosters will lay eggs.

Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, today said that ABARE now has egg all over its face after another woefully inaccurate oil price forecast, leaving the Australian community scrambling to deal with a fuel price crisis.

New Matilda published this piece today under the title: 'Be wary, we're in safe hands'.

This piece was published today on Crikey's daily email. Also see my media release from this morning on the issue.

I have to confess myself quite flabbergasted by the extent to which our governments, oppositions, economists, planners and media claim to have been caught unawares by the rocketing global oil price and imply that no one could have seen it coming.

Australian Greens climate change spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne, today rejected Prime Minister Rudd's extraordinary claim to have done all he can on fuel prices, highlighting five decisions his Government has made that have a negative impact and should be reversed.

Senator Milne said, "Prime Minister Rudd's claim to have done all he can on fuel prices is a blinkered view which completely ignores the need to plan urgently for peak oil and wean Australia off our oil addiction fast.

ABC Online kindly published this piece of mine today here. It's very encouraging to see the overwhelmingly positive comments thread thus far.