Federal Election – Policies Overview
Posted on 9 November 2007 by e-news
Federal Election 1: Candidates Forum: 14th Nov, Agitation Hill, Castlemaine, 7pm.
Federal Election 2 : Party Positions:
Labor’s National Solar Schools Plan “Labor Government will invest up to $489 million to make all of Australia’s 9,612 private and public schools “Solar Schools” within eight years.” Proposal includes: grants of up to $20,000 to install 2 kilowatt solar panels to provide average greenhouse gas savings of up to 2.8 tonnes per year, and grants of up to $30,000 to install efficiency improvements for energy and water measures including rainwater tanks, solar hot water systems, and lighting upgrades.
Greens: to achieve a Mandatory Renewable Energy Target of 25% by 2020, the Greens will: 1. Legislate targets into an extension of MRET – requires energy retailers to buy renewable energy credits (RECs) from renewable energy generators. 2. Set feed-in-laws worth at least double the price of conventional power to stimulate renewable energy production. 3. Establish a nationwide program (EASI) to retrofit all 7.4 million households with solar hot water and insulation over the next two decades (on top of Labor’s plan for solar schools). 4. Establish a $3 billion SUN FUND for renewable energy R&D.
Liberals: A re-elected Coalition government will introduce a new Climate Change Fund to support clean energy development, funded out of revenue from the sale of permits in our emissions trading scheme. $75 million will be provided to support new and emerging renewable energy technologies. The Green Vouchers for Schools program offers every school up to $50,000 for solar hot water systems and rainwater tanks. Our Low Emissions Technology Demonstration Fund, and Climate and the Solar Cities program in which our region is a participant, are other key examples of the Coalition government’s support for the environment.
The Democrats are continuing to campaign on climate change. We accept the scientific consensus that it is essential for Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced by at least 60% of 1990 levels by 2050 and this means our use of fossil fuels must be phased out. The Democrats are campaigning for carbon pricing signal, a renewable energy target increased to 20% by 2020, the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, a sustainable energy commissioner, and more …
Federal Election 3: Web sites on party positions. The Big Switch: a collaborative online campaign designed to assist in taking practical, personal and political action to fight climate change. Search by postcode to find out what your local member is, or isn’t, doing. Learn about global warming and its potential solutions, without the spin: www.voteclimate.org.au and votenuclearfree.net
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