July 1st, 2009
ACT Greens MLA for Molonglo, Shane Rattenbury says that Canberrans should feel proud that for a small cost per year they are helping make the ACT the leading jurisdiction in Australia on green energy.
“Even when you include the cost of all the ACT’s green energy initiatives, Canberrans still pay, on average, $600 per year less than their NSW neighbours in Queanbeyan.”
“The independent price regulator, the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission (ICRC), has set electricity prices for 2009-10 factoring in a range of issues that impact on cost - the cost of transmission losses and trading fees and charges, as well as green energy initiatives.”
“But it’s not the ICRC’s job to put a price on benefits to the community, and the feed-in tariff in particular will deliver more than just emissions reductions, it will also help grow local jobs in an industry of the future, and the beginnings of a decentralised energy system.”
“Stage 2 of the feed-in tariff will see large scale installation on the rooves of warehouses and shopping centres, and the cost to Canberrans will only be around an extra 65 cents a week.”*
“Tackling climate change will cost money in the short term, but not taking action will be far more costly – and early action to insulate ourselves from rising electricity prices will pay off in the longer term.”
“The Greens are calling on the Government to ensure that low income families are protected from the price rises by lifting the energy concession rate, which has been dropping in real terms over the past 5 years.” said Mr Rattenbury.
* based on 10mW installed capacity
June 30th, 2009
The Greens have applauded Chief Minister John Stanhope’s preparedness to take on good waste management ideas, even when recommended by a Greens MLA.
Greens spokesperson on waste, Caroline Le Couteur MLA asked the Chief Minister in question time last week to provide recycling drop off points at all Government shopfronts and libraries that would accept batteries and fluorescent light globes for recycling.
“Mr Stanhope was positive about my suggestion, acknowledging that there were limited places for the public to take these items, and he committed to looking at the possibility of extending drop off points to public locations.” Ms Le Couteur said.
“Batteries and fluorescent light globes are highly toxic items that can be recycled, yet they mostly end up in our landfill.”
“A key problem is the inconvenience of having only two places the public can drop off batteries and light globes for recycling; the Mitchell and Mugga Lane Resource Centres.”
“It’s a real disincentive for people to have to travel so far, or hoard these items in their homes. It will make a huge difference if battery and light globe drop off points are in more convenient locations.”
“The Greens want to see something put in place quickly, so we can make it easier for the public to recycle and stop environmentally hazardous materials going into landfills.” said Ms Le Couteur.
June 25th, 2009
ACT Greens Multicultural Affairs Spokesperson, Amanda Bresnan MLA has welcomed the Government’s announcement to develop a formal monitoring and evaluation process for the Multicultural Festival.
“The Multicultural Festival is a very successful event that brings many visitors locally, interstate and from overseas.” Ms Bresnan said today.
“But the current arrangement, where the personal opinion of the Minister determines who and what should be a part of the Festival, is outdated.”
“That is why the Government agreeing to the Estimates Committee recommendations that it review and evaluate the Festival is so positive.”
“This is a national and Canberra-wide event that could further develop around the needs and expectations of our broader community. A proper review followed by the establishment of a clear brief and vision for the Festival is a good way forward.”
“It has been suggested that certain events should not be included in the Festival because they do not fit in with the Festival’s unwritten vision.”
“I’d like to see this Festival becoming more, rather than less, inclusive and interactive in its activities. This evaluation might help identify a wider notion of what this Festival can be about.” Ms Bresnan said.
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