Antinuclear

http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2015/s4363307.htmTANYA PLIBERSEK: This is pretty rich considering that we have actually cut funding to countries like Kiribati that are currently struggling with climate change and adaptation and mitigation.

In fact we’ve cut $2.5 million from Kiribati. It’s plain too that there is no new money here, we are talking about redirecting some of the existing aid budget, which, as I said, is already much depleted. 

ELEANOR HALL: The leader of the Australian Greens has accused the Federal Government of a paltry effort at the Paris climate conference.  Richard di Natale says the $1 billion that the Government is promising to help Pacific nations should not be being diverted from the foreign aid budget.

In Canberra, political correspondent Louise Yaxley reports.

LOUISE YAXLEY: In Paris, Malcolm Turnbull has promised more money for innovation by signing up with other countries for a plan to double investment in clean energy over the next five years.

Many of the details of where that money will go will be spelled out in the innovation statement next week.

Labor’s deputy leader Tanya Plibersek says that does not match up with the Government’s recent actions.

TANYA PLIBERSEK: Now it seems that the Prime Minister is talking about innovation in the area of climate change. Well this is pretty ironic from a government that has halved the funding of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, sought to abolish ARENA, abolish the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and abolish the Climate Change Authority.

LOUISE YAXLEY: Mr Turnbull has also promised to spend at least a billion over the next five years from the existing aid budget to help small Pacific nations adapt to climate change and to reduce emissions.

The Foreign Minister Julie Bishop defended the age budget being used that way when interviewed on AM.

JULIE BISHOP: Because this is what the aid budget is designed to do – to assist in natural disaster relief, to build resilience against natural disasters. Indeed this is what the small island developing nations of the Pacific are asking for.

MICHAEL BRISSENDEN: It’s not new money though, is it?

JULIE BISHOP: No, it’s not new its money out of the aid budget…….

LOUISE YAXLEY: Tanya Plibersek says is highly critical.TANYA PLIBERSEK: This is pretty rich considering that we have actually cut funding to countries like Kiribati that are currently struggling with climate change and adaptation and mitigation.

In fact we’ve cut $2.5 million from Kiribati. It’s plain too that there is no new money here, we are talking about redirecting some of the existing aid budget, which, as I said, is already much depleted.

LOUISE YAXLEY: Greens leader Richard Di Natale says the Government’s approach in Paris is a huge disappointment.

RICHARD DI NATALE: He has not put anything new on the table, he has flown to Paris and not committed one extra cent to climate financing, in fact he has taken money out of the aid budget.

He is bringing Tony Abbott’s targets and we remain the worst per capita polluter in the world. He is demonstrating his commitment to renewable energy by refusing to abolish fossil fuel subsidies and by abolishing the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and ARENA which is still on the books here. …..

LOUISE YAXLEY: Senator Di Natale is scathing about the Federal Government’s refusal to sign up to a communique about the abolition of fossil fuel subsidies.

RICHARD DI NATALE: A shameful exercise: money taken out of the aid budget, not one additional cent for climate financing, the worst targets in the developed world. Refusing to sign on to a communiqué to end fossil fuel subsidies because of a dodgy deal with the nationals.

LOUISE YAXLEY: Labor’s Tanya Plibersek says it shows the power of the National Party which is determined to keep the diesel fuel rebate which returns about two and a half billion a year to farmers and miners.

TANYA PLIBERSEK: All the National Party has to do is yank the chain a little bit and the Prime Minister comes to heel. …..http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2015/s4363307.htm