Gillard must listen: drop citizens assembly and take real action on the environment
26/07/10
Julia Gillard must drop her so-called Citizens Assembly and take real action on the environment following clear public feedback that families view the plan as a failure of her leadership.
Reports today show a Galaxy poll has found nearly two-thirds (62 per cent) of people rejected Julia Gillard’s plan for a 150 person assembly to talk about an emissions trading scheme.
Shadow Minister for Climate Action, Environment and Heritage Greg Hunt said: “This is a failure of leadership and Ms Gillard must listen to the public and drop the Citizens Assembly.
“This is a test for Ms Gillard: will she listen to the public and the experts and dump Labor’s sham or will she ignore them and continue her approach to delay taking real action?
“The Coalition’s position is clear: we will take real action on the environment and climate change and have already released a $3.2 billion Direct Action Plan.
“There are still serious questions Julia Gillard must answer about her assembly:
- How will these 150 people be selected, and by whom?
- What will be the definition of consensus? 50% + 1 of delegates agreeing? 76 delegates? Or all 150 delegates agreeing?
- If there is no consensus will she abandon putting, or go ahead with imposing, a massive electricity tax on Australians?
“In light of the public’s view, the view of experts and the clear and better model being proposed by the Coalition, Julia Gillard must drop Labor’s farce of a Citizens Assembly which is neither elected, nor seemingly, has any power.
“We already have an elected Citizen’s Assembly; it’s called the Parliament.
“This policy represents a huge failure of leadership on Julia Gillard’s behalf.
“The public have made it clear they view this assembly as a farce.
“Julia Gillard cannot answer basic questions on her Citizen’s Assembly and she must drop it. She should adopt the Coalition’s Direct Action Plan for immediate action on climate and clean air,” Mr Hunt said.