05-05-2009 The Rudd government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme is deeply flawed.

The Government has announced that it will delay the scheme by one year and deliver another $2.2 billion in compensation to Australia’s biggest polluters—in addition to $7.4 billion the polluters are already getting.

The Greens are prepared to support a minimum unconditional 25% target – the bare minimum required by science and the global community – to end 12 years of climate inaction. And Treasury modelling shows it is affordable; by 2020 Australia’s GDP will be roughly three times the size it is today whether we have a ‘worse than useless’ 5% target or the minimum effective 25% target. To view the latest message from the Australian Green Senators regarding the CPRS click here.

You can support the Greens by showing the Prime Minister that Australians support an emissions trading scheme that protects the environment, not polluters.

Our letter writing campaign to the major newspapers around Australia has been unbelievably successful, and has achieved all our aims. Therefore, we would ask you to take the time to call the talkback radio station in your area and let them know how important it is for our Government to take action on climate change.

3CR (855AM) - (03) 9419 0155
ABC Melbourne (774AM) - 1300 222 774
JOY (94.9FM) - (03) 9699 2949
PBS (106.7FM) - (03) 8415 1067
SYN - (03) 9925 9907
RRR (102.7FM) - (03) 9388 1027

Points you might like to voice in your call:

• After 11 years of climate inaction, Australia cannot afford to delay any longer on emissions trading. The future of our children, grandchildren and their children is at stake.
• Climate action is URGENT. Urgent action is cheaper than delaying action and it provides the green jobs of the future.
• A weak 5% target won’t stimulate long term investment in the clean, green jobs of the future.
• The Greens are providing strong leadership by being prepared to support an amended CPRS which legislates for an unconditional emissions cut of 25% below 1990 levels by 2020, with a commitment to move to 40% if global negotiations are successful.
• A minimum 5% target is worse than useless when 25% is the bare minimum required by science and the global community.
• Treasury modelling shows 25% target is affordable; by 2020 Australia’s GDP will be roughly three times the size it is today whether we have a ‘worse than useless’ 5% target or the minimum effective 25% target.
• The government is already giving $7.4 billion in compensation to Australia’s biggest polluters, now they want to give them even more.
• Every dollar that compensates polluters is a dollar less for the community.
• The Rudd government faces a choice: it can ‘brown down’ its CPRS with the Coalition, making it weaker than it already is, or it can green the CPRS up with the Greens in the Senate.
• Australia will reduce its emissions by 4% on 1990 levels by 2020. The United Kingdom’s target is 34% on 1990 levels by 2020. It is clear who is leading the world on climate, and it is not Australia.

Because the bottom line is: protecting the climate is a job for everyone.