Vote Compass finds confusion in Australian electorate about climate change action
Climate change looms as challenge for all parties http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-26/antony-green-vote-compass-climate-change/4909774 You need to go to this site to see details explained in excellent graphics By Antony Green 26 Aug 2013, “……By proposing to bring forward the market price mechanism to 2014, the Rudd government has tried to address the cost of living issues associated with the carbon tax. It has also tried to return the issue to again being about climate change, rather than tax and the economy.
The change of wording from tax to price has not removed the political divisions created by the issue, as revealed by the results of questions on the issue in Vote Compass.
Vote Compass put the proposition to respondents that “the federal government should put a price on carbon” and asked them to agree or disagree.
Of the more than 800,000 respondents so far, about 400,000 answered this question as well as providing the demographic data that allows the sample to be weighted against the 2011 Australian Census.
Overall the survey revealed the electorate leaning toward supporting a carbon price, as shown below. (see graphs) Continue reading
70,000 jobs for New South Wales, in a positive renewable energy plan – Riverina Greens candidate
Greens 100% renewable energy plan http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-27/greens-10025-renewable-energy-plan/4913920 27 Aug 13 The Greens Candidate for the Riverina says the party’s plan to make NSW electricity supply 100 per cent renewable – isn’t a pipe dream.
The Greens Ros Pragnell was joined by New South Wales Upper House MP John Kaye for the community launch of Solar panels at her home yesterday. Ms Pragnell says the party’s renewable goal is achievable within the next 15 years and will offer significant economic return for the Riverina.
She says renewable energy is the way of the future and residents should take advantage of solar power. “If we phase out fossil fuel electricity and invest in wind power, solar technologies and and energy efficiency we can reap benefits of being a world leader in the clean energy economy,” she said.”Now we believe that’s not a pipedream its possible it’s affordable and it’s essential.”
Ros Pragnell says with the number of jobs in the fossil fuels industry declining – it’s time to make the states electricity supply entirely renewable.
“Fossil fuels are becoming much more expensive to be able to extract, with a greater mechanisation you just don’t have the bodies on the ground to work it,” she said.”With renewable energies we create jobs there’s manufacturing there’s retail, servicing and it’s estimated that 70,000 jobs in NSW could be created.
Chris Sobey, Greens candidate, advocates renewable energy for the Murray River region
Renewable energy ‘in 15 years’ Border Mail By DAVID JOHNSTON Aug. 27, 2013 NSW Greens MP John Kaye yesterday used the launch of the campaign of Farrer candidate, Chris Sobey, to promote the party’s push to make the state electricity supply 100 per cent renewable.
Dr Kaye and second-time candidate Mrs Sobey used the backdrop of the Murray River to sell the virtues of a 100 per cent renewable energy future within 15 years…… Mrs Sobey contested the 2007 federal poll and stood in the NSW election in the same year.
“We have let the health of the river go for too long,” she said. “The news from the climate people is shocking. “The extreme is going to become the normal. “The cost of bushfires, drought and flood relief in the long run all increases the gross domestic product.
“We should be prepared to use debt to change things over to renewable energy and increase the GDP by building things.” http://www.bordermail.com.au/story/1733034/renewable-energy-in-15-years/?
Greens’ Community Renewable Energy Policy in harmony with ARENA and Clean Energy Finance Corporation
Details of the policy include an important role for the existing Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). It will be allocated the funds to manage a competitive tender program whereby projects that can demonstrate that their business plans are feasible will receive financial and logistical support as they need it through stages of business development and project implementation. The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), which currently facilitates large-scale clean energy development, is also expected to play a key role in enabling communities to get their projects off the ground sooner.
Australian Greens’ Community Renewable Energy Policy Clean Technica 27 Aug 13,Originally published on The Community Power Report.by Manny Pasqualini A huge step toward establishing a viable community-owned renewable energy sector in Australia has been taken with The Australian Greens launching their Community Renewable Energy policy in a joint media event co-hosted by the Fund Community Energy campaign and representatives of inner-Melbourne’s community solar projects, including Moreland, Yarra, and LIVE Community Solar.
Announced on the 21st August at Melbourne’s iconic Queen Victoria Market, the ‘Australian Community Renewable Energy Program’ pledges $100 million over 5 years as seed-funding for feasibility grants, project management and specialist expertise to be accessed by emerging locally-owned and operated clean energy projects.
Australian Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne spoke of the initiative’s potential to give local communities the power to generate their own power by opening up the opportunity for hundreds of thousands of Australians to own and benefit from renewable energy. Continue reading
Community Energy Campaign outlines what Greens policy would achieve
Australian Greens’ Community Renewable Energy Policy Clean Technica 27 Aug 13 “……..Nicky Ison from the Fund Community Energy Campaign welcomed the policy announcement, saying that $100 million in seed-funding has the potential to unlock over $1 billion of investment in communities around Australia. Based on economic modelling commissioned by the Fund Community Energy Campaign and undertaken by Marsden Jacob Associates, The Greens’ $100 million fund would:
- Shepherd more than 250 community owned renewable projects from inception to the investment-ready stage over the next five years
- Unlock over $1 billion worth of investment in communities around Australia
- Install 656MW of community renewable generation
- Offset 1300 kilotonnes of carbon emissions
“This can unleash 1 billion dollars of investment – that’s investment that people like you and I could make, as mums and dads, as renters, as farmers, and the list goes on.” Ms Ison said.
“These projects enable communities to rejuvenate their local economies through keeping investment in their local communities, to be able to tackle climate change at the local level, and finally to be able to address and take charge of their own community’s electricity bills.”
“We need to get projects to a point where they’re investment ready, so that the communities can then invest in themselves, and that’s what this policy announced by The Greens can do.” Ms Ison said.
Fund Community Energy campaigners have met with representatives of all major Australian political parties in recent months as part of a strong nationwide campaign calling for a $50 million fund to support communities through the difficult early stages of renewable energy project development. The campaign applauds the $100 million proposal and calls on all parties to follow suit and recognise the wide-ranging benefits that community renewable energy can provide for all Australians. http://cleantechnica.com/2013/08/26/australian-greens-community-renewable-energy-policy/#VAo2bjRwV0LjliDL.99
Tony Abbott would sell Australia out, in the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) ?
Australia’s Labor government has said it would not accept any provisions that would allow corporations to sue Australian governments. The Coalition has given no such commitment.
Tobacco clause might burn free trade agreement http://www.theage.com.au/business/tobacco-clause-might-burn-free-trade-agreement-20130825-2sjuk.html#ixzz2d8J4g3P9 Peter Martin. August 26, 2013 The timetable for completing the world’s largest free trade agreement is slipping as negotiators in Brunei express concern at US proposals to give tobacco companies the power to sue governments and to weaken government control of state-owned enterprises. Continue reading
Depressing lack of Liberal-Labor interest in climate change, as Murdoch media spreads fear of The Greens
the Greens are seen as the main enemy of the major political parties.
Abbott in particular is locking in a higher level of fossil fuel dependence
Smoke and mirrors, with no policy on smoke The Age, August 26, 2013 Kenneth Davidson Senior columnist In a campaign of slogans and scare tactics, environmental issues are dismissed. “…….., the Coalition is having a field day selling fear, aided and abetted by the Murdoch press. This too, is partially the responsibility of Labor, which changed the media ownership rules in the 1980s, paving the way for News Limited to get control of the Herald and Weekly Times group and about 70 per cent of metropolitan daily newspaper circulation.
But the most depressing aspects of this election are the failure of the major parties to develop a coherent policy to deal with climate change, and their willingness to co-operate in squeezing the Greens out of the political process when the Greens are the only 
party prepared to confront the issue.
The draft of the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, leaked last week, is truly terrifying. Reports of the draft state that the consequences of greenhouse gas emissions ”at or above current rates” have put the world on track to become up to 5 degrees hotter and that there is a 95 per cent likelihood that human greenhouse gas emissions are driving the rise in extreme weather events now being observed around the world.
The implication of 5 degrees warming is an extremely hostile environment for the biota, de-population and, not to put too fine a point on it, the end of civilisation (including the economy) as we know it. Continue reading
Greens leader Christine Milne shows strength in difficult election situation
Monash University’s Paul Strangio says that now, more than a year after succeeding Brown, Milne has established her identity as the party’s political leader………
After Julia Gillard’s demise, Milne is also the only female national political leader. She notes that the two big parties are now led by married men, each with three children, both of whom go to church on Sunday. ”People who have difficulty with women in leadership are quite satisfied now that the stars are aligned and everything’s back as it should be,” says Milne. ”That’s a tragedy in Australia because women in leadership have a lot to offer.”
Her leadership of the Greens, she explains, is therefore also about making it easier for the next generation of women to lead
Tenacious Milne walks the thin green line SMH, Shane Green Associate Editor of The Age 24 Aug 13 Christine Milne takes her seat for another flight on the campaign trail. Behind is a woman about her age with her elderly mother. As the flight progresses, the younger woman taps Milne on the shoulder and passes a note, written by her mother.
”You’ve got my vote, Christine,” it reads, instantly providing Milne the personal fillip that is intended. Yet its true significance becomes apparent only when the elderly woman gets up to make her way to the toilet. She is struggling, obviously battling a debilitating physical disease. The note of support would have taken half the flight to write.
The Greens leader is deeply touched. It’s a powerful and poignant reminder of the responsibility we place on those who seek to lead us, and the importance of delivering. In an era of pervasive cynicism about politics and politicians, this is a telling moment.
”I’ve always stood up for what I’ve believed in regardless of whether it’s popular or not. And it means a great deal when you have a very elderly person saying to you, I’m going to vote for you,” says Milne. ”All that investment of trust from someone like that really matters.”…….
These kids are great, she says, but her party has supporters across the generations. Among the youthful enthusiasts are two greyer heads, for boomers have also come to the aid of the party.
All of which will be needed in an election that will not only be a fight for survival for Bandt, made all the harder by the Liberal decision to preference Labor above the Greens. It will also be the first big electoral test for the Greens under Milne’s leadership. Continue reading
Northern Territory Aboriginal candidate Barbara Shaw aims to end The Intervention
Born and raised in an Alice Springs town camp, Barbara Shaw, an Aboriginal activist and mother of two, is challenging Snowdon on the Australian Greens ticket.
Speaking about the intervention, Shaw, 37, told Al Jazeera, “All I have seen is racism and disempowerment of our people. It’s the old assimilation policy back again, to control how we live.”
Shaw opposes the intervention, which continues under the government rubric of Stronger Futures, and agrees it remains a major source of disaffection for voters. “The Greens are calling for a five-year review of Stronger Futures. It was supposed to create jobs in the bush, but it hasn’t. We stand for sustainable communities and families and eventually to bring an end to Stronger Futures, to skill up people in the bush so they can run their own communities.”……
Aborigines sour on Australia’s Labor Party Angry over federal intervention in the Northern Territory, indigenous voters could sway upcoming polls. Aljazeera, Glenn Morrison 22 Aug 2013 “……largely missing from this picture is a tragedy that has been unfolding at the heart of the nation for more than a century – the plight of Australia’s indigenous people, the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. Often a convenient platform for domestic political grandstanding, indigenous Australia receives scant attention in frontline election coverage
The electoral district of Lingiari, which comprises most of Australia’s largely undeveloped Northern Territory, is emerging as a litmus test for the political leanings of Aborigines and whites alike. Once considered a safe seat for the centre-left Australian Labor Party, incumbent Warren Snowdon’s future is now in doubt, according to political analyst Professor Rolf Gerritsen of the Northern Institute at Charles Darwin University. Continue reading
Australia’s Liberal Coalition selling out our children’s future, to get support of coal industry
Coalition out of step on renewable energy http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/1726125/coalition-out-of-step-on-renewable-energy/?cs=64 By Michael Weadon Aug. 23, 2013
The renewable energy sector now employs more people than the car industry with a fair proportion in the Ballarat area.
Unfortunately the development of clean energy and the associated benefits for Ballarat and the globe as a whole are being held back by the promises of Mr Abbott’s coalition.
Why does the coalition support a policy that is not supported by scientists, economists and business leaders?
I can only guess that the coalition are willing to sell our children’s future to win the support of the now dying coal industry. A myopic view at best.
Independent candidate on NSW Central coast calls on Aborigines to fight Wallarah 2 coal mine
Independent Robertson candidate asks Local Aboriginal Land Council to “do more” to stop Wallarah 2 Mine http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-23/indpendent-robertson-candidate-asks-local-aboriginal-land-counc/4908878 23 Aug 2013, An independent candidate contesting the NSW Central Coast seat of Robertson has called on the local Aboriginal Land Council to do more to stop the Wallarah 2 coal mine from going ahead in the Wyong Valley.
Environmental activist Jake Cassar made the comment at an anti-mine rally outside the office of Energy and Resources Minister Chris Hartcher.
Mr Cassar says he has great respect for the Darkinjung people. But he says they need to take responsibility and join the fight to stop the mine.
“The mine needs to access their land and I’m calling on the Darkinjung Land Council to act as custodians of our local area and to fight passionately against this,” he said. “With enough pressure and I think if we get the land council on side then we’ve got a really, really good chance of winning this campaign.”
In Central Victoria, they’re keen to save money with solar power
We need a candidate who will roll up their sleeves and work with the four local renewable energy groups to address Powercor policy restrictions on new solar, ensure big polluters don’t interfere with a fair price for rooftop solar and develop business models for community owned renewables projects, with all profits powering the local economy instead of foreign-owned electricity companies.
Renewable energy will keep power bills down Bernard Tonkin Castlemaine http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/1727086/renewable-energy-will-keep-power-bills-down/?cs=82 Aug. 24, 2013, A letter by Rod Leunig in Wednesday’s Advertiser (“Greens all talk – Country Alliance has the answers”) claimed that renewables and carbon pricing would cause people to struggle with their energy bills.
You can Google “Solar Scorecard” on the web. http://www.solarscorecard.org.au/
All major local candidates are scored according to their commitment to renewable energy – easing cost of living pressures and powering our local economy. Continue reading
Fred Leftwich on what Tony Abbott REALLY means on “Aboriginal economics”
Mr Abbott’s meaning of the words ‘land rights’ http://fredleftwich.com/2013/08/11/mr-abbotts-meaning-of-the-words-land-rights/
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-10/abbott-indigenous-council/4878022/?site=indigenous&topic=latest Fred Leftwich
Australian governments are trying to re-define the words “land rights” to send different messages to different people. Opposition leaders, Tony Abbott, said he supported land rights but aboriginal land must be used as an economic resource and not just for cultural purposes.
Aboriginal people have always used their land for cultural and economic purposes. It’s just that their economic activities are environmentally sustainable and seek to feed their people.
When Mr Abbott uses the words “economic” he means bringing in mining companies to steal the mineral resources with profits going overseas, Australian governments getting a cut, while aboriginal communities get a very small token royalty payment whilst continuing to remain living in poverty. Aboriginal people need to argue for a treaty because it’s harder for Australian governments to misrepresent the word treaty.
Influential leaders in Victoria urge Climate Change as election issue
Former governor David de Kretser joins climate change campaign JOHN MASANAUSKAS, HERALD SUN, AUGUST 22, 2013 A FORMER Victorian governor has taken the unusual step of campaigning on a federal election issue.Professor David de Kretser, who was governor from 2006 to 2011, has signed his name to an eastern suburbs-based campaign urging MPs to take immediate strong action on climate change because the “planet is warming at an alarming rate”.
Prof de Kretser, a respected medical researcher specialising in infertility, signed a statement sponsored by an organisation called Lighter Footprints, which describes itself as a nonpartisan, volunteer climate action group based in the City of Boroondara.
It’s statement published in local newspapers asked politicians to “press for immediate support for increased renewable energy and reduction in the burning of fossil fuels”.
“Your choices now will affect life as we know it,” it said…..
- Other signatories to the climate change statement include respected scientist Sir Gustav Nossal, cooking personality Stephanie Alexander, Trinity Grammar principal Rick Tudor and Fintona Girls School principal Suzy Chandler.
Greens leader Christine Milne speaks at National Press Club
The ALP government and the Liberal and National Opposition lining up to protect the interests of the mining corporations against the interests of the Australian community. It is the Australian Greens who are standing with the people, for the environment and for a safe climate.
As IMF boss Christine Lagarde said recently, “Unless we take action on climate change future generations will be roasted, toasted fried and grilled.”
We need Scott Ludlam standing up for digital freedom and big solar and against nuclear
Christine Milne addresses the National Press Club 19 Feb 2013 | Christine Milne Australian democracy is at the crossroads. Our future as a nation, our sense of who we are and what we want for our society and local community is now being determined by mining billionaires in boardrooms for themselves and their overseas shareholders, and what they want, is being delivered through our state and federal parliaments. The mining industry has become so powerful that the lines between business and politics have become blurred to the detriment of people and the well being of our society.
No group of people is suffering more than our Indigenous people, the traditional owners of the land who are seeing their land, their country decimated and cultural sites like the archaeological treasury on the Burrup Peninsula and at James Price Point being sacrificed to Woodside’s bottom line. In acknowledging the Ngunnawal people, the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, and in paying my respects to their elders past and present, I am proud to say that the Greens have driven for them the parliamentary process of constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as a result of our agreement with the Prime Minister.
But it is not enough…….
With it must come respect for culture and country, by standing up to the mining boardroom greed that sees both as expendable. For Premier Colin Barnett to threaten indigenous communities with the compulsory acquisition of their land in the interests of Woodside is wrong and shameful…….
Trust has gone. Continue reading
1 This month
Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes – A good documentary on Chernobyl on SBS available On Demand for the next 3 weeks– https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-program/chernobyl-the-lost-tapes/235274195556
21 April Webinar: No Nuclear Weapons in Australia
Start: 2026-04-21 18:00:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)
End: 2026-04-21 19:30:00 UTC Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney (GMT+10:00)
Event Type: Virtual
A virtual link will be communicated before the event.
Host Contact Info: australia@icanw.org
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 