Phillipa Parsons, Greens candidate for Shortland today urged local Labor MP Jill Hall to pressure her party to include the Greens interim carbon tax proposal in any election announcement on climate change.
“We know the community wants strong action on climate change and Prime Minister Julia Gillard needs to seriously consider the Greens proposed interim carbon tax before the election,” said Ms Parsons.
“I believe that people are sick of both major parties debating this issue as if Australia had a choice and I call on Jill Hall to lobby Prime Minister Gillard to back the Greens proposed carbon tax. We cannot afford to delay action on reducing Australia’s carbon emissions until 2013,” she said.
“Under the Greens' proposal, a carbon tax would currently collect $23 per tonne, and would stay in place until an effective Emissions Trading Scheme has been developed and is in place. Indeed, a Climate Institute report released this week shows the Greens' policy of a carbon tax will save households and businesses money as power costs soar, helped by federal government and opposition inaction,” said Ms Parsons.
“Shortland has many people and families vulnerable to rising power costs and Labor’s CPRS would have punished them instead of rewarding them for changing to renewable energy. We need a scheme that makes polluters pay, not households. The Greens would invest the money raised from a carbon tax in renewable energy and energy efficiency schemes to grow our low carbon economy and create new jobs.
“As a coastal electorate, Shortland has many areas that are vulnerable to the effects of a changing climate and sea level rise. It is imperative that Labor has interim measures in place to move Australia to a lower emissions economy whilst debating a long term solution and the Greens’ carbon tax serves that purpose,” she said.
About Me
- Phillipa Parsons
- I am a Greens councillor on Lake Macquarie City Council. I am also the Greens candidate for Swansea in this upcoming 2011 NSW state election. My biggest motivator is ensuring sustainability. This must be the key word in decision making at all levels of government. We need investment in renewable 'clean' energy sources and begin a just transition from dirty coal that pollutes the air, affects the health of entire communities and contributes to climate chaos globally. We need to ensure that we protect our communities from over-developments and protect public space. We need to ensure public education and health are top of the list of funding priorities. I appreciate feedback so don't hold back if you have something constructive to contribute! The biggest question we all need to ask ourselves is "what will you tell your grandchildren you did to address these issues?"