“Reversing the effects of climate change is one of the greatest challenges we now face as a nation” Ms Vamvakinou said.
“A number of local residents living in Calwell have written to me expressing their concerns over climate change, water shortages, and the lack of federal government leadership or action in these areas” Ms Vamvakinou said.
"Australia lags far behind the rest of the developed world when it comes to tackling climate change" Ms Vamvakinou said
“Whilst the EU has set a target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020, Australia’s greenhouse emissions are expected to soar by 27% by 2020.”
“A decade of warnings about the dangers of climate change has been matched by a decade of denial and inaction by the Howard government” Ms Vamvakinou said.
“Those residents who have written to me understand that failing to respond to climate change will hurt our economy, our environment and our children’s future.”
“Australian’s want a federal government that is both willing and able to take the lead on tackling climate change. The Howard government has no plan, no new ideas, and absolutely no momentum in this area.” Ms Vamvakinou said.
“In government, Federal Labor will ratify the Kyoto Protocol, and has undertaken to cut Australia’s greenhouse pollution by 60% by 2050.”
“We will establish a national emissions trading scheme, and significantly increase the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target with a view to encouraging, among other things, greater use of solar and wind power.”
Labor also recently announced its $500 million clean coal fund to promote cleaner coal and to protect jobs in this sector, as well as its new $500 million “Green Car Innovation Fund” that will throw a life line to Australia’s struggling car industry by investing in the development and manufacture of low emission cars in Australia.
“Public attention on climate change has largely emerged alongside public fears over Australia's water crisis. People understand that the two issues are linked” Ms Vamvakinou said.
“The Hume City Council’s recently released “State of the Environment Report 2006-07” shows that local residents are taking Australia's water crisis seriously, with average water consumption per household in the region having dropped.”
The average domestic water consumption per household in Hume (incorporating homes and gardens):
· In 2002/2003 – 280 KL per household
· In 2003/2004 – consumption dropped to 223 KL per household.
· In 2004/2005 – consumption further dropped to 214 KL per household.
Average household water consumption rates dropped in every suburb in Hume, with the most significant savings occurring in Sunbury and Bulla, where water consumption per household has nearly halved.
“The report shows that like millions of other Australian’s who have undertaken to conserve water at home and in the workplace, local residents are carrying the lions share of the burden and doing most of the work when it comes to saving water” Ms Vamvakinou said.
“The Howard government has a responsibility to match those efforts by delivering clear policies that provide long term solutions to Australia’s water crisis.”
“We need to conserve the fresh water that we have; to maintain healthy water flow in our rivers, wetlands and estuaries; and to fully utilise the huge volumes of wastewater that can be recycled” Ms Vamvakinou said.
“Water recycling, both for domestic and commercial use, has a critical role to play in fixing Australia’s water shortages. What we need is a clear and comprehensive set of national guidelines for water recycling in Australia” Ms Vamvakinou said.
“Labor has committed to setting a national target of recycling 30% of wastewater by 2015” Ms Vamvakinou said.
Contact: Alex Kouttab 0417 541 465
