DESPERATE GREENS LIE

Media Release

Mark Butler

Shadow Minister for Environment
 Climate Change and Water

Date:  27 May 2015

Any claims by the Greens that Labor has “allowed” wood waste to be included in the Renewable Energy Target (RET) legislation are completely false. 

Labor has said on numerous occasions that we will move an amendment to the Government’s legislation to exclude this provision. Labor does not support burning native forests as a renewable energy source. We opposed it in Government and we oppose it now. 

The Government introduced legislation to the Parliament today with respect to the revised RET. The Government has included in that legislation burning of native forests as a potential renewable energy source. 

As the Greens well know, legislation is prepared by the Government of the day and the Opposition and other members and senators are within their rights to move amendments to that legislation. The RET legislation was not debated nor did it go to a vote in the House of Representatives today. 

If the Greens cared about the future of Australia’s renewable energy industry, they would focus their attacks on the Coalition who have spent 18 months trying to destroy the renewable energy industry. 

Labor has committed to increase the 2020 RET if elected in 2016. Labor is also consulting with industry and stakeholders about an ambitious post-2020 renewable energy policy. 

Renewable energy has a bright future in Australia under Labor and the Greens would be well-placed to support our amendments.