Gillard plan cops criticism
Friday, 23 July 2010
Yahoo!7
The new plans for tackling climate change announced by Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Friday have provoked mostly negative responses, not the least that of protester Bradley Smith who was arrested at her speech.
Mr Smith, a 26-year-old university student, was taking part in a protest by the Friends of the Earth environment group, who accused Ms Gillard of showing a "failure of leadership" when people wanted action.
"That means adopting strategies to drive down our greenhouse emissions rather than spending millions of dollars on yet another talk-fest," said national liaison officer Cam Walker, referring to Ms Gillard's plans for a "citizens assembly".
The citizens' assembly was also criticised by the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) and Environment Victoria, who said no commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions existed and mining of coal seam gas wells would expand.
"An Auspoll survey in June found 79 per cent of Australians support a price tag on pollution," ACF executive director Don Henry said.
"The Government is already supporting the construction of two solar power stations; we should be building 30 of them."
Environment Victoria held a protest in Melbourne about the government's policy on Friday, describing it as "appalling" and giving the "green light" for 15 new coal-fired power stations nationally, including the HRL proposal in Victoria.
"The promise that new coal-fired power stations will have to be carbon capture ready is greenwash, particularly given that the commitment does not apply to the 15 existing proposals to build new coal-fired power stations," campaigns director Mark Wakeham said.
