The Greens have responded to this week’s news that the Rudd government will be delaying action on climate change until 2013 by saying that he has broken an election promise.
Ms Lindsay Shurey, the Preselected Greens candidate for the Federal seat of Kingsford-Smith said today,
“Australians have been let down by Kevin Rudd. They voted for him because he promised to do something to tackle climate change.
But since then the meagre 5% reduction target in his Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) legislation forced many Australians who wanted real change to turn against it.
He should not wait till 2013 to introduce this fail legislation but should now redraft it so that it wins back the confidence and support of ordinary Australians who want him to do some thing that will make a difference.”
Ms Shurey’s comments echo Greens Leader Dr Bob Brown who says negotiating with the Greens on a “Garnaut-proposed levy”on carbon polluters is now the Prime Minister's best option to show Australians he is serious about climate change.
Results of a new poll by Galaxy Research show that the majority of Australians want the government to negotiate with the Greens in the Senate for climate action.
Results of the national telephone poll of 1,100 respondents taken this month show that 72% of Australians were in favour of the government working with the Greens, independents and other senators to introduce a levy that will ensure the biggest polluters pay for climate pollution.
CONTACT: Federal Greens candidate for Kingsford-Smith Lindsay Shurey
72% of Australians want government to negotiate with Greens on carbon levy
Media Release | Spokesperson Bob Brown, Christine Milne
Thursday 29th April 2010, 10:33am
Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said negotiating with his colleagues on a Garnaut-proposed levy on carbon polluters is now the Prime Minister's best option to show Australians he is serious about climate change.
Results of a new poll by Galaxy Research show that the majority of Australians want the government to negotiate with the Greens in the Senate for climate action.
Results of the national telephone poll of 1,100 respondents taken this month show that 72% of Australians were in favour of the government working with the Greens, independents and other senators to introduce a levy that will ensure the biggest polluters pay for climate pollution.
Only 20% were opposed to the government negotiating with the Greens.
"By getting behind the Greens' proposal, the Prime Minister will show he is able to tackle climate change," Senator Brown said.
Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, called on Minister Wong to reopen negotiations towards the proposal which stalled last month.
"Clearly Australians want climate action fast, and they would back the government in working with the Greens to get a levy on polluters in place before the election."