Press release – 10 July, 2011Today’s carbon price announcement by Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, provides an historic opportunity to move from a high risk, high polluting economy to a safe, sustainable clean economy – but it still leaves a lot of work to be done – according to Greenpeace Australia Pacific.As Winston Churchill said after the Allies first major victory during the Second World War: “This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. … But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
“We believe this is a fundamental first step in our journey to a clean energy future,” said Greenpeace CEO Dr. Linda Selvey. “The fact that we have any price at all is testament to all Australians who demanded the government take action on climate change. But equally, the fact it is such a low price, with such limited coverage is testament to the power of the big polluters to dominate Australia’s political leadership.
“We welcome the fact this vital issue will be taken out of the party political process and administered by the newly formed, Climate Change Authority, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (
ARENA),” said Selvey. “We also welcome the Federal government’s announcement the renewable industry will have a secured income stream of some billions over the next 5 years.”
“A low carbon price alone will not drive sufficient change and will not give investors the certainty to invest the billions necessary in renewable energy,” said Selvey. “That’s why we are calling on both the Gillard-Government and the Coalition to move quickly in two areas”
The swift introduction of a Pollution Standard for all power stations to ensure no new dirty coal power stations are built
An end to over $7 billion in fossil fuel subsidies every year. The subsidies must be re-directed to safe clean industries of the future.
“We acknowledge cutting the fuel tax credit available to the mining industry is a beginning” said Selvey. “But the cut announced today still leaves over $1 billion in fuel subsidies available to the mining industry. This money needs to be re-directed to support industries of the future.”
For further information contact:
Julie Macken – Media Officer: 0400 925 217.