Peter Garrett makes his case
Australia's climate champion
Former Midnight Oil singer Peter Garrett has long campaigned on the issues he feels strongly about - notably conservation and indigenous rights. Now, as Australia's shadow minister for climate change, he's taking his arguments right to the top and the country is listening.
Peter Garrett became MP for the Sydney suburb, Kingsford Smith, in 2004 and quickly rose up the ranks. As the man behind the classic song 'Beds are Burning' - still a weekly fixture in watering holes up and down the vast country - it made perfect sense for him to become the shadow minister for the arts.
In December 2006 he was appointed as the shadow minister for climate change. With Garrett's track record as a campaigner for the environment, including former president of the Australia Conservation Society, this was obviously going to be a challenge he would relish.
In December 2006 he was appointed as the shadow minister for climate change. With Garrett's track record as a campaigner for the environment, including former president of the Australia Conservation Society, this was obviously going to be a challenge he would relish.
Quick of the blocks
Since the appointment, Garrett has been quick to hit the Government where it hurts, such as quoting big business to back up his arguments.
'Some of the world’s leading companies have called John Howard's government (the government in power) to stop stalling and start delivering climate change solutions. The Global Roundtable on Climate Change has called on all governments to accept the climate change science, set strong targets for greenhouse pollution reductions, encourage energy efficiency and put a price on carbon.'
The Global Roundtable includes General Electric, Ford, Toyota and Wal-Mart.
Garrett goes on to outline his party's policies.
'Labor is committed to cutting Australia’s greenhouse pollution by 60% by 2050. It will also put a price on carbon through a national emissions trading scheme and will substantially increase the mandatory renewable energy target. Additionally, we will also invest in energy efficiency. The only way Australians will get action on climate change is if they change the Government.'
'Some of the world’s leading companies have called John Howard's government (the government in power) to stop stalling and start delivering climate change solutions. The Global Roundtable on Climate Change has called on all governments to accept the climate change science, set strong targets for greenhouse pollution reductions, encourage energy efficiency and put a price on carbon.'
The Global Roundtable includes General Electric, Ford, Toyota and Wal-Mart.
Garrett goes on to outline his party's policies.
'Labor is committed to cutting Australia’s greenhouse pollution by 60% by 2050. It will also put a price on carbon through a national emissions trading scheme and will substantially increase the mandatory renewable energy target. Additionally, we will also invest in energy efficiency. The only way Australians will get action on climate change is if they change the Government.'
Talk to the experts
Garrett also plans to talk with top level scientists and experts, which Howard refuses to do. He recently announced that Labor will arrange a national climate change summit that will be held in Canberra during late March/early April.
'It is in the national interest that we work together to develop the best national response to the climate change challenge. In recent times, others have called for a national summit on climate change, although the government has rejected these calls. We will convene a national climate change summit, bringing together some of the nation’s best business and science brains. The Summit will begin to shape a national consensus on the way forward for Australia over the next decade.'
This shows that the Labor party is taking climate change far more seriously than the Howard Government.
The summit will introduce a range of new polices that will involve:
- A national emissions trading scheme
- An examination of the future use of clean coal technologies
- A robust mandatory renewable energy target (to encourage greater use of solar and wind power)
- Demand energy efficiency strategies
- Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and further negotiations through the United Nations
- The future of Australia’s diplomatic action in relation to China, India and other major powers regarding the most effective response to climate change.
With these open minded policies in development, Garrett is not hesitating to expose flaws in Howard’s policies.
'It is in the national interest that we work together to develop the best national response to the climate change challenge. In recent times, others have called for a national summit on climate change, although the government has rejected these calls. We will convene a national climate change summit, bringing together some of the nation’s best business and science brains. The Summit will begin to shape a national consensus on the way forward for Australia over the next decade.'
This shows that the Labor party is taking climate change far more seriously than the Howard Government.
The summit will introduce a range of new polices that will involve:
- A national emissions trading scheme
- An examination of the future use of clean coal technologies
- A robust mandatory renewable energy target (to encourage greater use of solar and wind power)
- Demand energy efficiency strategies
- Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and further negotiations through the United Nations
- The future of Australia’s diplomatic action in relation to China, India and other major powers regarding the most effective response to climate change.
With these open minded policies in development, Garrett is not hesitating to expose flaws in Howard’s policies.
'Howard’s failure to appoint a climate change minister shows he is not serious about tackling climate change'
'Everyone knows Australia is getting hotter and drier, but the PM remains in denial and continues to shirk responsibility. By refusing to act on climate change, he is failing to protect Australian jobs and the Australian economy.
For ten wasted years, Howard has blocked every move to tackle climate change. He has said no to: the Kyoto Protocol; emissions trading; long term targets for cutting greenhouse pollution; increases to the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target and federal climate change laws.'
'The Howard Government can’t be trusted on climate change and it is out of touch with the Australian public. A recent poll showed 73.9% of Australians think the Government is not doing enough on this subject.'
For ten wasted years, Howard has blocked every move to tackle climate change. He has said no to: the Kyoto Protocol; emissions trading; long term targets for cutting greenhouse pollution; increases to the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target and federal climate change laws.'
'The Howard Government can’t be trusted on climate change and it is out of touch with the Australian public. A recent poll showed 73.9% of Australians think the Government is not doing enough on this subject.'
Time to become a leader
Garrett also criticises Howard for questioning the accuracy of the fourth Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report.
'This IPCC report was produced by 600 authors from 40 countries, including 42 scientists from Australia. There were 620 expert reviewers and 113 governments involved. Yet the PM says that it is very hard for them to work out what things might be like. They have done exactly that, with enough accuracy to give prudent governments a clear identification of the risks that lie at the heart of the climate change issue.
It tells us that temperature increases are likely to be in the range of two to 4.5 degrees Celsius; hot extremes, heat waves and heavy rain events will continue to become more frequent; and how quickly we respond will determine how hot the planet will get.'
It is clear that allowing Garrett off the leash to say what he really thinks is much more appealing to voters because he strikes a natural resonance with their gut feelings. If he continues to show the same level of inspiration he displayed during his music career then his presence should play a big part in helping Labor to win the election later this year. This result would surely provide Australia with a chance of becoming a leader on climate change in the world rather than a burden.
'This IPCC report was produced by 600 authors from 40 countries, including 42 scientists from Australia. There were 620 expert reviewers and 113 governments involved. Yet the PM says that it is very hard for them to work out what things might be like. They have done exactly that, with enough accuracy to give prudent governments a clear identification of the risks that lie at the heart of the climate change issue.
It tells us that temperature increases are likely to be in the range of two to 4.5 degrees Celsius; hot extremes, heat waves and heavy rain events will continue to become more frequent; and how quickly we respond will determine how hot the planet will get.'
It is clear that allowing Garrett off the leash to say what he really thinks is much more appealing to voters because he strikes a natural resonance with their gut feelings. If he continues to show the same level of inspiration he displayed during his music career then his presence should play a big part in helping Labor to win the election later this year. This result would surely provide Australia with a chance of becoming a leader on climate change in the world rather than a burden.
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