ACT Greens

Meaningful targets a bridge too far

December 15th, 2008

Shane Rattenbury MLA, ACT Greens spokesperson on Climate Change, the Environment and Water, has condemned the Australian Government for its weak greenhouse gas emission reduction target announced today.

“the Government is pleased to suggest it understands how serious the climate change threats is, but is patently unable to bridge the gap between that understanding and action” Mr Rattenbury said.

“The Australian government understands that the world needs a reduction of about 25% in greenhouse emissions by the year 2020 if natural wonders of the world such as our great barrier reef are to survive. But it isn’t even prepared to show the world that such a reduction is imaginable.”

“Kevin Rudd has failed to heed the scientific advice given to him. He has failed the test of leadership, and instead surrendered in the fight against climate change. Rather than protecting Australians from a climate change future, Kevin Rudd has given in to the big polluting industries.”

“All talk and no action appears to be the tragic reality of the Rudd government’s approach. And for so many Australians, who saw Howard’s end last year as a moment of hope, those hopes have now been dashe” Mr Rattenbury said.

Thinking Long Term to Save Our Schools

December 10th, 2008

ACT Greens Parliamentary Convenor Meredith Hunter has submitted a Bill to the Legislative Assembly which will amend the Education Act 2004 to ensure that any decision to close, amalgamate, or consider closing a government school are made in a rigorous, thoughtful and transparent manner.

“This Bill will address issues in the act, to make sure that the sham consultation of 2006 can not be repeated,” Ms Hunter said today.

“There will be clear timeframes outlined which will allow better consultation and assessment of the facts, which will lead to better process and decisions being made.

“To begin with, this Bill will go to the Education Committee to incorporate community advice on how to best consult with school communities.

“One of the greatest frustrations of the 2006 process was Government, with their minds already made up, heading out to listen to concerns, only to ignore them.

“To address this, the Bill states that the Minister must explain to the school community how the school community’s views have been taken into account in making the final decision.

“Communities form around schools, and we need to think long-term about how to maintain the education services that communities want and develop better processes for when demographics change,” Ms Hunter said.

MEDIA RELEASE | Green New Deal for Canberra

December 5th, 2008

The Greens in the ACT Assembly called for the ACT Treasurer’s stimulus package, proposed for February next year, to invest in climate change adaptation and in the development of the green economy.

“The development of a green economy is at the top of our agenda for this term,” the ACT Greens Parliamentary Convenor Meredith Hunter said today.

“A feature of the Greens-ALP Agreement made in October is an Energy Efficient Makeover of Canberra houses rated lower than 3 stars.”

“That initiative should be one of the first cabs off the rank next year, as a cost effective move towards making all housing in the ACT energy efficient.”

“An initial investment of $500,000 to help ACT house owners access federally funded energy efficiency improvements would deliver environmental, social and economic benefits.”

“In addition, we’d like to see the Government come good on its commitment to double the funding for energy efficiency improvements in ACT Housing.

“Setting up a coordinated process to retro-fit Canberra’s inefficient houses will create a whole industry and deliver cost benefits and greater comfort for residents. It would be a win-win approach to stimulate our economy in a difficult adjustment period.

“Addressing transport issues in Canberra should also be a priority. It’s time to put some money on the table to start improvement in our bus services.

“And if we’re promoting Canberra as a destination, the Airport Group should fund a solution to their taxi problem, so those who arrive by plane might see some of the other sites as well.

“Around the world it’s being called ‘The Green New Deal’: aimed at getting our economies moving, while also improving our buildings, homes, transport, energy efficiency, and tackling climate change,” Ms Hunter said.

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- Green economy still the way forward
  
  The ACT Greens response to today’s mid year budget review is to look to the long term and make sure that any restructuring helps position the ACT economy for the future.
  
  “We recognise that the global economic crisis and its impacts across Australia has put the ACT in a challenging situation, where some years of deficit are inevitable” Mr Rattenbury said today.
  
  “Like other economies, the ACT will need to make some adjustments. And that’s when the timing of initiatives in the Greens-ALP Agreement, and the way we handle priorities, become the issue.”
  
  “Some of the best minor capital works we can get started on, in the February stimulus package, are green projects that quickly create green jobs and industry. Retrofitting energy inefficient homes is one clear example of the right kind of project.”
  
  “We shouldn’t forget how this financial crisis came about: a focus on short-term profit by the richest parts of the global community. Everyone now recognises that it is time for new thinking.
  
  “That’s why the Greens-ALP Agreement is a commitment to building a green economy for the future and to strengthening the community sector.”
  
  “We support taking a calm and sensible approach to the challenge of the next few budgets, but the direction we need to move in is still clear.”
  
  “Finally, we are pleased to see that this new minority government is consulting the ACT community on the 2009/10 budget. The Greens urge people to get involved in that process. And, given the ACT Government’s shrinking income, to think about revenue as well as expenditure” Mr Rattenbury said.
- Breaking the homeless cycle must be the goal
  
  ACT Greens Housing Spokesperson, Amanda Bresnan MLA has called for a one stop shop approach for people at risk of homelessness and more public and community housing.
  
  “The $1.2 billion in the Federal Government’s homelessness package announced this week is very welcome, but it is focussed too much at the crisis end,” Ms Bresnan said today.
  
  “We need a one stop shop, integrating mental health, drug and alcohol, employment, legal and other services. Basically, those necessary services that can help people at risk of homelessness to remain in their homes.
  
  “Mental illness is a factor in as much as 75% of homelessness cases in Australia, but it’s not clear that there is an appropriate recognition of that in this package.
  
  “The other ingredient for longer term housing solutions, is an increase our stock of social, including public, housing.
  
  “But, while some of the Commonwealth money is to increase the supply social housing, we don’t know if any of that will result in additional funding for the ACT.
  
  “The ALP Greens agreement includes a goal of 10% public housing in the ACT. We would like to see some of this Commonwealth investment used to help us reach that goal.
  
  “But we don’t yet know what this really means for the ACT. National initiatives sometimes deliver a lot less in practice than at first appears. And we understand a new funding formula will be introduced next year, which could result in less rather than more money coming to the ACT in any event.
  
  “It’s fantastic to see this kind of commitment and focus from the Federal Government but details that are still missing” Ms Bresnan said.
- No Surrender on Climate Change
  
  On Tuesday the 16th December, over 1000 people attended Greens rallies around Australia to show their disappointment at the Rudd Governments’ emission targets. In Canberra, over 100 people rallied out the front of Parliament House, calling on the Rudd Government to pull down the white flag of surrender on Climate Change.
  
  Senator Christine Milne and MLA Shane Rattenbury spoke to the crowd, calling this the start of the ‘people’s movement on climate change’. Senator Milne said that this rally would be the first of many in the lead up to the 2010 election, which would be a ‘referendum on climate change’.
  
  MLA Shane Rattenbury pointed to the enquiry being conducted in the ACT, which would lead to a legislated target of at least 30% reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 in the territory as the sorts of actions that need to be taken across the country to address serious climate change.
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Meaningful targets a bridge too far

Thinking Long Term to Save Our Schools

MEDIA RELEASE | Green New Deal for Canberra

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