(155 words on water for Feb 2 edition of Queanbeyan Age)

The Greens have comprehensive policies on water, and launched our urban water strategy this week.  Measures include redirecting the $1.2 billion cost of a desalination plant into rainwater tanks, local grey water treatment, stormwater harvesting and wastewater recycling; financial assistance to low income households to reduce their water demand and increase efficiency, with rebates on high-efficiency appliances for pension card holders; enhancing BASIX (sustainability criteria) to ensure all new and renovated dwellings and commercial premises are water-efficient and maximise the capture of rainwater, stormwater and wastewater; local recycling and reuse projects for industrial and commercial premises, including on-site grey water pilot projects with the goal of re-using most water at least three times; water efficiency, re-use and recycling of water extracted from rivers and aquifers; water resources remaining in, and returning to, public ownership; increased allocations of water to river flows; and legislative protection for all NSW wetlands to ensure sufficient surface and ground water.

Australia cannot afford to wait for experimental technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and advocates of this ‘wait-and-see’ approach are risking catastrophic climate change, the Australian Greens said today.

Greens climate change and energy spokesperson Senator Christine Milne said a report commissioned by the Energy Supply Association of Australia (ESAA) was self-serving, arguing for the nation to put its hopes in carbon capture and storage, and ignoring the potential gains from energy efficiency. (more…)

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon accused the Electricity Supply Association of Australia of misleading the public to maintain its members dominant position in energy market.

The ESAA today released a report that argues a cut in greenhouse gas emissions will increase the cost of electricity. (more…)

The shackling of uncharged Australian prisoner David Hicks at Guantanamo Bay is a national disgrace, Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

“The political infatuation of the Howard government with the Bush administration has allowed David Hicks to be shackled in a way that would lead to uproar and criminal charges against the jailers if had happened here in Australia.

“There is public revulsion at the Hicks’ incarceration. Mr Howard will be punished by decent public opinion over his cowardly failure to stand by Australian values here,” Senator Brown said.

Greens candidate for Monaro Catherine Moore has called for an urgent reversal of the Bega and Pambula maternity units’ alternate weekend closures.

“This decision is a direct threat to the health, happiness and wellbeing of families in both the Bega and Monaro electorates,” Catherine said. (more…)

Responding to the CSIRO report that places Sydney in the forefront of climate change causalities, Greens MP Lee Rhiannon today called on the NSW government to introduce state-based carbon taxes in order to fast track a shift from coal generated electricity to wind and solar energy sources and energy efficiency. (more…)

Greens Leader Bob Brown has challenged Labor’s absurd solidarity with John Howard over coal mining and burning of Australia’s native forests by loggers.

“The national debate over climate change, the fate of the Great Barrier Reef and water shortages must start with the causes. It is farcical for Labor and John Howard to back expanded coal and woodchip exports but say they are serious about tackling climate change,” Senator Brown said. (more…)

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today welcomed news that the HIFAR reactor at Lucas Heights has been turned off but warned that Australians should be aware that making the site safe (decommissioning) could be a very long process and may never be achieved.

“Today Lucas Heights’ old reactor is turned off but the public needs to be aware that the site may never be made safe,” Senator Nettle said.

“Humanity has not solved the nuclear waste and decommissioning problem. None of the 100 or so commercial nuclear plants that have been switched off around the world have been successfully decommissioned. (more…)

The Daily Telegraph’s Kickstart the Economy campaign proposal for 5% of all development of more than 20 dwellings to be reserved for affordable housing is a welcome initiative, according to NSW Greens MP and Housing spokesperson, Sylvia Hale.

“While the Greens do not support all of the initiatives outlined in the Telegraph’s campaign we do support this proposal to greatly increase the stock of affordable housing. The Greens have been calling for 10% affordable housing in all new multi-dwelling residential developments for some time.” (more…)

Greens MP and Upper House candidate Lee Rhiannon - launching the Greens urban water strategy today - said the major parties have underestimated the community’s willingness to treat water as a precious commodity and be part
of the solution to drought.

“The major parties have failed to read the community mood. There has been a welcome shift in support for water recycling, but we must not lose sight of the enormous capacity of the public to save water and use it more
efficiently,” Ms Rhiannon said. (more…)