Federal Power Grab Threatens States’ Greenhouse Action
Friday, 07 September 2007 00:26
The Bill gives the Federal Environment Minister the power to kill-off effective state programs by cutting off the flow of vital greenhouse and energy information. Section 5 of the Bill should be dumped, TEC said.
“The Federal Government is playing politics with Australia’s future,” said Jane Castle, TEC Energy Campaigner. “The states and territories have led Australia on climate change for the last ten years and now they’re being punished for making the Federal Government look bad. Stopping the states from protecting the environment is dangerous and irresponsible, and should be seen for what it is – cynical political game-playing.”
“This Bill is supposed to facilitate the reporting and dissemination of information, but instead it gives Malcolm Turnbull the power to veto state schemes. It dumps the collaborative approach achieved by COAG.”
“Climate change requires a wide variety of responses at different levels, including state-based and local action. Extinguishing all other programs for a future emissions trading scheme is misguided and dangerous."
The Bill uses the Corporations Law to override the States’ rights to gather energy and greenhouse information from relevant parties, thereby invalidating the reporting requirements that are core to their greenhouse, energy efficiency and renewable energy schemes.
Key state-based greenhouse programs under threat include:
* NSW’s Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme
* NSW’s Renewable Energy Target
* Victoria’s Renewable Energy Target
* South Australia’s Climate Change and Greenhouse Emissions Act
“Australia will enter a dangerous, uncertain void if the Bill passes in its current form as the supposed emissions trading scheme, which this Bill is meant to support, is at least 5 years away.”
“The Bill also disables the States from collecting information on a long list of air pollutants such as fine particles, oxides of nitrogen and sulfur dioxide and dangerous carcinogens such as mercury, arsenic and dioxins. Restricting that information will jeopardise the health of all Australians.”
