Climate Change & the Zero Carbon World

Greens offer stable leadership, climate change action

Media Release | Spokesperson Bob Brown
Saturday 17th July 2010, 2:17pm
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“A strong safe crossbench in the Senate” - Brown

“I offer the electorate experienced and stable leadership, and the progressive policies and clear vision for Australia’s future which the big parties are ignoring,” Australian Greens Leader Senator Brown said in Canberra today.

Climate change impacts mapped in Google Earth

Blog Post | Blog of Bob Brown, Christine Milne
Thursday 15th July 2010, 10:49am
by DavidParis in

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office have produced a Google Earth map displaying the impacts of a 4º C temperature rise across the earth.

It highlights why temperature rise must be kept below 2º C

Senator Bob Brown's address to the National Press Club - July 2010

Speech | Spokesperson Bob Brown
Wednesday 14th July 2010, 5:02pm
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At this National Press Club I acknowledge the traditional owners of the Canberra region and all the Indigenous people of our nation.

This year will be another milestone in politics for the Australian Greens. The sole balance of power in the Senate and a breakthrough into the House of Representatives are both within reach. Australia's voters are looking for more progressive politics and the stable, experienced leadership which we alone have produced over the past three turbulent years in Canberra.

Brown offers Gillard breakthrough on climate change

Media Release | Spokesperson Bob Brown
Tuesday 29th June 2010, 8:16am
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Plan to legislate a carbon price within 3 months of election

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown and Deputy Leader Christine Milne today announced a 5 point plan for rapid government action on climate change and a legislated carbon price soon after the election.

Senator Brown said he wrote last night to PM Julia Gillard with the proposal.

"This is breakthrough politics - the Greens are opening a new door to a new Prime Minister for new action on climate change," said Senator Brown.

Gillard "parked Greens vote won't last" - Brown

Media Release | Spokesperson Bob Brown
Saturday 26th June 2010, 9:00am
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"The Green vote "parked" with Australia's first female Prime Minister Julia Gillard, won't stay there long," Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today.

Commenting on the polls, Senator Brown said that the Gillard prime ministry will shed progressive voters as the natural mood of celebration passes and the reality of Labor's right-wing ascendency manifests itself in:

  • A backdown to the mining billionaires over the $12 billion allocated from the mining boom tax in the budget forward estimates.

"That will be a multibillion dollar loss other Australians will suffer", Senator Brown said.

  • A continued harsh line on asylum seekers, as flagged in Ms Gillard's first speech as Prime Minister.
  • Environmental failure: on whaling, biodiversity and marine reserves.
  • A tough time for Greens negotiators wanting better funding for mental and dental healthcare.
  • More uranium mining and a Northern Territory nuclear waste dump.

"And I don't expect this Prime Minister to back the Greens' policy for a national integrity commissioner to fight political corruption, or for our proposed commissioner for truth in political advertising.

"I do look forward to talking to Prime Minister Gillard about a carbon price and real action to tackle climate change but I doubt that she will shake off the powerful coal mining lobby to achieve that goal," Senator Brown said.

Labor has only itself to blame on climate change: Brown

Media Release | Spokesperson Bob Brown
Sunday 13th June 2010, 12:00am
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13 June 2010


Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown says that Labor has only itself to blame for getting into bed with the Liberals over climate change.

"It was serious misjudgement. And it is no good Labor waking up the morning after being done over by the Liberals and accusing the uninvolved Greens of "purity"," Senator Brown said.

"The fact is Prime Minister Rudd has refused to talk with me or fellow Greens over climate change or anything else, since April 2009.

"Labor ought to have taken up the Greens proposal for a carbon tax. It is not too late to do it - We would welcome negotiations.

"A 72% majority of Australians want the government to negotiate with the Greens in the Senate for climate action."

Results of a national Galaxy Research telephone poll of 1,100 respondents taken in April show that 72% of Australians are in favour of the government working with the Greens, independents and other senators to introduce a levy that will ensure the biggest polluters pay for climate pollution.

Only 20% were opposed to the government negotiating with the Greens.

Senator Brown was responding to criticisms on morning television today by Labor Ministers Anthony Albanese and Lindsay Tanner.

Media contact: Erin Farley 0438 376 082


 

Greens rise in poll presents Rudd opportunity on carbon tax and forests

Media Release | Spokesperson Bob Brown
Friday 21st May 2010, 2:52pm
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Today's Morgan poll showing the Greens at record levels near 12%, and the continuing decline of Labor's standing, presents an ideal opportunity for Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to restore the government's green credibility, Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said in Hobart today.

"The Prime Minister has two rolled-gold eco-policy options with high public approval. Firstly, he should consider the Garnaut-style carbon tax as proposed by the Australian Greens," Senator Brown said.

"Secondly, with the Australian timber industry crumbling, the Rudd government should move in and solve the forest conflict once and for all. By restructuring away from native forest logging in Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales, Mr Rudd can give forestry workers a future and protect some of the largest carbon banks in the world," Senator Brown said.

Media contact: Peter Stahel 0459 133 597

72% of Australians want government to negotiate with Greens on carbon levy

Media Release | Spokesperson Bob Brown, Christine Milne
Thursday 29th April 2010, 10:33am
in

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said negotiating with his colleagues on a Garnaut-proposed levy on carbon polluters is now the Prime Minister's best option to show Australians he is serious about climate change.

Results of a new poll by Galaxy Research show that the majority of Australians want the government to negotiate with the Greens in the Senate for climate action.

Results of the national telephone poll of 1,100 respondents taken this month show that 72% of Australians were in favour of the government working with the Greens, independents and other senators to introduce a levy that will ensure the biggest polluters pay for climate pollution.

Ask your local MP to work for an immediate levy on climate polluters

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There is a real chance of serious action on the climate crisis before the coming election - if you help us by emailing your local member today and asking them to get behind good-faith negotiations with the Greens towards a simple carbon levy.

The Greens' deadlock-breaking proposal for a simple levy on Australia's biggest polluters - supported by key players from Professor Ross Garnaut to Greenpeace, from the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) to the Climate Emergency Network - has a real prospect of passing the Senate and getting Australia moving on climate action. The government has started negotiations with the Greens towards the proposal, but they need a strong signal from Australians to speed up those negotiations and get a bill before the parliament next month.

You can help make this a reality by emailing your local MP and asking them to raise the proposal with their leader - the Prime Minister or Leader of the Opposition - and tell them that their constituents are swinging behind the Greens' simple carbon levy proposal as a way to get climate action started swiftly in Australia. Ask them to get back to you with a response from their leader.

If you don't know the name of your Federal MP or seat, you can find out by clicking on this link and plugging in your postcode. Then select them from the drop-down menu below and write them a personal email telling them the Greens' carbon levy is the way to go.

Together, we can get Australia moving towards real climate action before this year's election!

Senate censures Government over climate program mishandling

Media Release | Spokesperson Bob Brown
Wednesday 24th February 2010, 2:15pm
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The Senate has passed a censure motion moved by Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown over the Rudd Government's mishandling of climate change programs.


An amended version of the censure motion moved by Senator Brown today was passed by the Greens and the Coalition and will now be conveyed to the House of Representatives.


This is the first time a formal censure of the Government has been passed by the Senate since 2005.