Tony Abbott and the Coalitions Policy on the Environment.

In the Coalitions “Our Plan” policy booklet Section 19. “Delivering a cleaner and more sustainable environment.” It talks about a “15,000 Strong Green Army” and I quote “We will take direct action to reduce carbon emissions - and establish a 15,000 strong Green Army charged with the clean-up and conservation of our environment – so that we can all enjoy a cleaner environment and a more sustainable future without the impost of the carbon tax.” So continuing this train of thought on how the  Coalition would reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. What special technology has Tony Abbotts “Green Army” got that the Australian Conservation Foundation started 1964, Landcare Australia started 1985, Greening Australia started 1982 and Clean-up Australia started 1989 doesn't have?

All these organisations have been doing fantastic work to improve our environment. But the greenhouse gases have been building up in the atmosphere and continue to do so at an alarming rate over the period these outstanding organisations have been going and much, much longer. So I repeat what special tools does Tony Abbotts Green Army have to reduce greenhouse gases, maybe Harry Potters magic wand?

Another part of the Coalitions response to Climate Change, and I quote “We will establish an Emissions Reduction Fund of $3 billion to allocate money in response to emission reduction tenders to projects designed to reduce carbon emissions.”

Now this is Taxpayers money being given to companies who say we need X amount of money to clean this up or clean that up, what is the criteria, means test used to pay out this money to companies, what are the safe guards against rorting the system. Now I look at it another way for companies to use there own money as good corporate citizens, for moral reasons, for the good of the planet to clean there own act up. Why should Taxpayers money go to them when it can be used for improving Health care, Education, infrastructure etc. Than what happens after the money is spent, their is no mechanism in place to keep them doing the right thing? That is why a Emissions Trading Scheme is so important.

Now last but not least, going on the idea that the air we breath moves around the planet and what we do effects other Countries in some way regardless how small, I thought this heading in Section 19 of the Coalitions policy booklet, is a bit silly and I quote “Reducing carbon emissions inside Australia, not overseas” Well we all remember what happened in Europe when a Volcano erupted in Iceland don't we?

NB. In this Section 19 of the Coalitions Policy Booklet, there is no comment about Climate Change or Global Warming, that is how interested they are in it.  

The Worker