Take direct action on water and the environment

Michael Cauce 26/06/10 01:14 PM Report Abuse

5% Tony?
I don't understand why you're proud of this commitment when it doesn't even remotely reflect what the latest climate science is saying we need, which is a minimum of 40% emissions reductions, probably more. And we can do it while benefiting the economy if we're smart about a new green economy. Besides which, there won't BE any economy if we don't deal with climate change.

Jeremy Eccles 26/06/10 01:25 PM Report Abuse

Unfortunately Tony ,your emissions reduction fund will also bust your budget and require a mining supertax to pay for it!
Sadly, you just can't please those polluting idiots all of the time.

William Zappa 26/06/10 01:59 PM Report Abuse

Two things: There is no mention of The Murray Darling itself and the actual environment and biodiversity, only 'people'.
Secondly, There is an overwhelming consensus across the whole world that global warming is real and serious and the 5 per cent reduction you offer is totally inadequate and you also offer no hint of support for new and emerging 'green' technologies.

I can't say I supported Labours ETS but which was flawed and misguided, I believe. However there is no way I could support such a short sighted and unimaginative proposal.

Darren from Perth 26/06/10 02:10 PM Report Abuse

Time to get serious, Libs. You better realise that the average Australian taxpayer wants serious action on climate change. Sure there are sceptics out there but take a look outside, the weather is changing every year and blind Freddy knows that people are not helping. What we do here hurts people in the 3rd world and we won't see the worst of the effect for 20 years by which time it will be too late. The least you can do is make a 20% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020. The Americans and Europe have their foot to the floor creating Green Economies and we should be doing the same, we have plenty of sun, air and coastline. Fund innovation and get the clever country to work before they take their inventions overseas.

Sarah McLoughlin 26/06/10 02:10 PM Report Abuse

Jeremy and Michael make excellent points though the Government's ridiculous CPRS seemed designed simply to paint the economy into a corner without a clear direction of where we can invest to reduce the economic pressures it caused. Too much of the capital being taken from the economy was being returned to Coal Industry just to keep them going when the raison d'tre of the tax was to drive them out of business. I'm still looking for a party with a Carbon management project plan to manage carbon through the economy to retain its productive value. Coalition proposal still too bitsy. I thought your soil carbon plan would do it but 5% is not enough of a target, not nearly enough. Biochar might help, but thinking purely in terms of targets is also not enough we have to invest in areas of employment or we put too many people through economic stress which will make them give up onthe project before we've made any headway.

Dan Katz 26/06/10 02:11 PM Report Abuse

The only way we as voters can get real action on climate change is to vote Green. The Greens won't gain power, of course, but our votes will perhaps force whichever pary is in power to do something.

No matter what spin politicians put on climate change, Nature will do what she will do. Without us doing something, we are doomed. One thing we can do that is quite simple is to stop logging our native forests. Besides the moral and economic gains of stopping, forests are our mates when it comes to storing carbon and combatting climate change.

Kris 26/06/10 02:33 PM Report Abuse

Must disagree. There is a large number of people who believe that so called climate change, global warming, call it what you may will kill us all and is out of control.
There is a much larger body of evidence that the computer generated figures forecasting massive heat build up are just that, computer models.
Climate change has been in place for the last 6000 years. It ebbs and flows like the tides and though I am all for cleaning up the planet, retaining forests and farm land etc, mankinds normal activities do not make that much difference to our planet.
Yes of course we need to stop pollution where possible, but not at the expense of normal human existence.
Plant life needs the CO2 we give off as much as we need the oxygen they give off.
They balance each other out.
The push by greens and world government cronies is merely to control and tax all man kind.
It has nothing to do with protecting the planet.
In the same manner that the fluro carbons in the worlds airconditioning systems were blamed for affecting the worlds atmosphere a few years back, so too is the current round of scaremongering. The real reason was that the patents on the fluro carbons were expiring and new patents, therefor new products were required to protect the income of certain world leaders.
The current flurry of activity is to boost the shares of those who are trying to bring this world wide climate change scare to fruition.
Let's all be realistic.
Don't waste our precious natural commodities.
Try to protect our environment as much as possible, yes even to picking up litter off the streets and dog poo if your's is responsible.
Help industry to work towards more sustainable and less polluting activities and enjoy life while we have it.

todd 26/06/10 02:41 PM Report Abuse

reduce it by 5% as compared to what level? 1900/1990/2019?

Bazza McKenzie 26/06/10 02:56 PM Report Abuse

Action on the Murray-Darling is worthwhile and a genuine government function.

The AGW scam, and the corrupt "science" and "scientists" behind it has been fully revealed. It is a rip-off proposed for leftist, anti-developmental aims, and for those perpetually interested in an ever expanding bureaucracy.

Don't waste my tax dollars on this. If you truly have to give some attention to the CO2 nonsense, include in the annual tax return a provision for anyone who wishes to do so to donate an ADDITIONAL sum to be spent on whatever wasteful schemes you can come up with under the AGW heading.

I am sure all the sanctimonious clowns who want to spend my money on these schemes and constrain my life will be falling over themselves to make big donations. Let them vote with their money instead of their mouths. Then again, if they have to pay instead of me, maybe the takeup won't be so great after all.

Bill Best 26/06/10 03:19 PM Report Abuse

If it lets me swim in my favorite river again without having to smell the toxic blue green algae, it must be a good idea. Problem with fertilizers is that they take a long time to clear and farmers are still polluting the rivers. Last time I checked the air was as pure as ever and CO2 is non toxic and good for plants too.

Andew 26/06/10 03:30 PM Report Abuse

Tony, here's an idea. Build a Very Fast Train (VFT) link between Melbourne and Sydney (via Canberra) with the intention of extending it to Adelaide and Brisbane asap. Make sure it is twin track all the way. You will at a stroke reduce traffic on our highways, reduce the pace of growth of our capital cities as it becomes viable to live in the country and work in the city, reduce carbon emissions, improve the lifestyle options of millions of Australians, provide employment for many many years as the rail lines are built, and increase the number of tourists coming to Australia as it becomes easier for them to move about.

And here's another idea. Provide electricity for the trains via nuclear power.

You're an action man Tony, do it, don't just initiate another study.

Carlingford Old Girl (daughter of an immigrant) 26/06/10 04:20 PM Report Abuse

Scientists from Oxford University gave out false information to prove their points about Global Warming and Climate Change. Forget Carbon Emissions Trading, which is a scheme for some people to make money at the expense of everybody else. We do have problems with pollution and should be addressing that. We should also be addressing waste. Why are homes, offices, factories etc these days built to only last a short number of years? That for a start is total waste. Why were Covered Outdoor Learning Areas built for schools? They will not last any length of time. They are less than a tent. If we bring in a Carbon Reduction scheme it will be a waste of time and money unless all countries on earth do the same. India and China will never agree and will continue to pollute our atmosphere.

VinceOZ 26/06/10 04:45 PM Report Abuse

Man made climate change has been completely debunked, but the idea of a sustainable environment is a worthwhile thing. Putting a tax on Carbon is a complete scam, traders get richer, energy costs rise, and the cycle never stops and the planet survives.

I do agree with real action however, I think the Solar rebates of $0.60 in NSW for instance is good, however as a pensioner I have found that the rebates are considered income by CentreLink and now I have been told I will be penalised for my investment.

Jaden 26/06/10 05:42 PM Report Abuse

5% is not something to be proud of, it is a weak target that will lock in a climate disaster. The latest science says we need to reduce Australia's emissions at least 25% but preferably closer to 40% by 2020.

Paul Scherek 26/06/10 07:04 PM Report Abuse

For those who consider that 5% CO2 reduction is insufficient to save the world, consider this. We are asked to believe that the worlds best scientists are dreadfully worried that the world as we know it will be destroyed as a result of man induced climate change. Why then are NONE of these great brains trying to limit a population growth rate that currently results in the DOUBLING of the world population every forty years?

With a population growth rate like that, no amount of wind farms would save the world. How can anyone believe in the sincerity of these scientists who haven't even suggested population control?

Ann Wright 26/06/10 07:29 PM Report Abuse

The use of solar panels on private houses contributes to the protection of the environment. At a time when electricity costs are increasing the reintroduction of support by the Government for the use of solar panels would be very beneficial to home owners and the environment. However I believe the cost of these panels can be reduced considerably and this would make this exercise more attractive to the Government and to home owners.

There are many companies, one in particular from Australia which has gone overseas, and others, which have produced solar panels much cheaper than those being used in Australia. I believe it would be worth while checking out some made in Silicon Valley where there are panels available at attractive prices using advanced technology.
Ann from Urrbrae.

Bob Brock 27/06/10 11:33 AM Report Abuse

Your claim that reducing emissions by 5 per cent will improve the environment is nonsense. How will it? Tell us how much it will reduce the average temperatures in Australia and world wide. You can’t, because it won’t. The whole climate change movement is a hoax. The science is not settled. Two years ago 32,000 scientists in the USA signed a petition to the US Government saying that humans are not changing the world’s climate. Have the courage to say again that it is all crap and, if you can’t quite say that, at least say that because of the doubts about the science all climate change measures will be put on hold and government expenditure cancelled until there is more evidence that there is a need for any action. If you want to do something environmentally useful, aim to reduce the pollution of the oceans, cut sulphur and nitrous emissions and preserve the wildlife in the world’s rainforests.

debs 27/06/10 12:58 PM Report Abuse

kris
does normal human existance include bottle feeding babies?

according to prof. roger short mel. uni humans used to space children out to one every 4 years thru breastfeeding ; just like elephants

debs 27/06/10 01:06 PM Report Abuse

bill best

higher co2 levels will actually decrease crop growth

try again

see www.newscientist.com/article/dn11655

debs 27/06/10 01:10 PM Report Abuse

bill best

check EPA ruling on co2

obama will use the ruling to bring in carbon price by march 2011

then oz will face tariffs unless we get our act together

debs 27/06/10 01:13 PM Report Abuse

andrew

Credit suisse 2009; nuclear power $62/mwh

geothermal $36/mwh


hello??

debs 27/06/10 01:15 PM Report Abuse

vinceoz ; you are right about one thing

the planet will survive

debs 27/06/10 01:20 PM Report Abuse

paul s

do you think maybe they are getting enough grieve already?

as you say the fundamental problem is human population exploding from 1 billion in 1804 to 2.5 billion in 1950 to 6.9 billion today

anybody who can't see that we are the problem is in denial

debs 27/06/10 01:31 PM Report Abuse

bob

the worst pollution problem the oceans face is the unprecedented rise in co2 and methane

methane is the gas that blew BP's oilrig apart and is now depleting the o2 levels in the GOM

you are right about the conservatives taget of 5% being ridiculous

we need to cut co2 emissions to zero

debs 27/06/10 05:15 PM Report Abuse

funny

i thought the greens were a major political group

debs 27/06/10 05:17 PM Report Abuse

the libs have a policy to address climate change ; yeah right

why don't you pull the other one ; it plays jingle bells

Chris Ottaway 27/06/10 06:17 PM Report Abuse

There were NO profanities, you fools!!!!

Chris Ottaway 27/06/10 06:28 PM Report Abuse

I've tried THREE TIMES to get a comment on here, only to be told to remove profanities and re-submit! WHAT is going on???!!!
Debs, you are among the dunces who believe that CO2 is a pollutant. It is NOT. It IS, in fact, essential for all life on this planet.
The two most urgent problems facing mankind are overpopulation and deforestation.
I'll leave it at that.

debs 27/06/10 08:54 PM Report Abuse

c ottaway

chris , you should review the EPA decision on co2

president Obama is going to introduce a carbon tax by next march

co2 is a poison if present in elevated levels ( try watching the Apollo 13 movie)

human population is the driver of deforestation, ocean acidification, biodiversity loss and resource depletion and most wars

it is resource depletion i am most concerned about


our population must decline at a rate equal to or greater than the depletion of non renewable resources

yvette gilroy 28/06/10 05:39 PM Report Abuse

The green army is a great idea -

bill griggs 29/06/10 11:48 PM Report Abuse

Debs...get a life
Oh and I am from the GournditchMara tribe and Methane gas was the catalyst of the Deep Horizon explosion not the cause ( that was shortcuts and poor planning ) and all this crap about Australias Carbon footprint...try a life in the day of China or India.. Carbon Trading is just a scheme to make the rich traders richer and the average person pay more for it and we will still have the same if not increased volumes of pollution

Carol Ryan 05/07/10 07:22 PM Report Abuse

The Govt does not own the water, its not a commodity to own, it falls from the sky, its a natural right. Big business should not get the major share either, if rivers flowed naturally instead of being dammed or have weirs built, everyone would have enough. Build infrastructure to capture the water from the floods that come from the north, they could flow into the large river systems which would flow to the other rivers. I heard KRudd gave permission to China to irrigate the Ord River, is that right ?

ConcernedDoc 16/07/10 02:37 PM Report Abuse

Typical liberal forum, can't take intelligent people coming on here and debunking your idiotic position with simple reason and argument so you delete the comments and let all your little lemmings continue to run around and think climate change is a joke. You frequently use the saying Rudd fiddles while Rome burns, well Abbott fiddles while the seas continue to rise and we destroy our planet. Same old libs, nothing but an old boys club for the rich. 5% is a joke simple as that.

Joe 17/07/10 08:24 PM Report Abuse

I am most definitely a liberal voter, but 5% is a poor effort. On a recent trip to europe, I was embarrassed to see that so many countries over there have wind and solar farms and we still think mining coal is a good idea. The north west of WA is booming!!! the infrastructure up there needs to be upgraded if the area is to develop. Why not put some effort into sustainable power in an area that a) gets so much sun, and b) has such high tides.

Com on Tony.. we need to fix the planet.. help australia do its bit