Local Federal Labor MP, Justine Elliot, has labelled those who protested at her Tweed office last week as Greens members, and claimed it was ‘just another cheap political stunt’.
As part of national ‘Rise Up’ protests against fossil fuel impacts on climate, activists are calling on the Albanese government to stop approving new coal and gas projects.
The Rise Up protesters say the protests were nationally co-ordinated by GetUp, 350 Australia, Australian Conservation Foundation, Australian Youth Climate Council (AYCC), Rising Tide and Move Beyond Coal.
They say their concerns includes ‘No more coal and gas; strong nature laws, and ending coal, oil and gas handouts’.
‘There are almost 30 new coal and gas projects that will likely be approved under our current weak nature laws. These fossil fuel projects represent up to 17 billion tonnes of emissions (or 30-years of Australia’s total annual emissions),’ explained the Rising Tide spokesperson.
‘As one of over 50 actions in every state and territory as part of the Rise Up: 12 Days of Action from 29 April – 10 May, Move Beyond Coal Northern Rivers and Gold Coast gathered to demonstrate that communities everywhere want the Labor Government to deliver the climate leadership desperately needed to protect lives, livelihoods and ecosystems.’
Greens challenge
Mrs Elliot’s 258 word reply to The Echo included previous criticisms of the Greens, and she added that the Greens voted with the Liberals and Nationals in 2015, ‘to change the pension asset test, which cut the pension to around 370,000 pensioners by as much as $12,000 a year, and saw many part-pensioners lose their pension all together.’
Greens candidate, Mandy Nolan, is contesting the once safe Labor seat of Richmond.
Mrs Elliot says her government ‘has taken strong action on climate change’.
‘We’ve lifted our country’s emission reduction targets by half, from 26 per cent to 43 per cent, and become one of just 33 countries to have enshrined those targets, together with net zero, in the law of the land, sending a message to renewable energy investors around the world that Australia has changed and is open and welcoming to renewable investment’.
Yet Move Beyond Coal Northern Rivers say Labor have failed to deliver on their promise to fix broken environment laws – see Toothless watchdogs and failed promises.
They say, ‘There are almost 30 new coal and gas projects that will likely be approved under our current weak nature laws. These fossil fuel projects represent up to 17 billion tonnes of emissions (or 30-years of Australia’s total annual emissions)’.
Justine Elliott,
I am very sad to inform you that due to your governments decision to actively persue and allow more Gas mining I will no longer support your Labor Party at future elections.
I am 74 years old and have always preferenced the ALP all my voting life, but no more.
You gave voters to understand that you would act on the science when Climate Change issues arose. This is not the case today with your governments approval of new gas mining.
I will no longer preference Labor in any way, at any election, even if I must cast an informal vote. You are worse than the LNP, at least they do not pretend to be concerned with the Climate disaster.
I would urge you to listen to Senator David Pocock’s ideas about gas reservation and not act as the enabler of the Gas industry Cartel.
It wasnt Greens members – they are still progressing, through their Councillor reps , a Council application for part funding of construction of a Methane Burining electricity plant in Sunrise.
How many are there? I count 7. And why do people holding signs about shameful destruction look so cheerful about it and like it’s all so much of a lark? Does the Echo give banner headlines to any congregation of seven or eight people?
Does anybody have a banner saying how great it is that the transition to renewables is moving apace under this government with the goal of 82% by 2030. Does anyone have a suggestion about what is the best energy source to manage the transition ie gas – less polluting than coal and more easily turned on and off? Of course not.
I think Justine might be onto something.
🎵 You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We’d all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We all doing what we can music 🎶
John Lennon
Even the Albo government realise we need gas to ensure constant reliable power production. The loud mindless minority can’t see past their next uninformed protest to see reality let alone one skerrick of common sense. You lot are a minority, what makes you think you are entitled to make the majority conform to your ridiculous ideology?. Do tell.
So now we know why Albo / ALP ran a mile away from his pre-Election22 promise to cancel PEP11.
So now we know why Albo / ALP didn’t rescind Susan Ley’s / LibNat decision to okay using The Great Artesian Basin as a dumping ground for Glencore’s / CTSCo’s pollution.
So now we know why Albo / ALP ‘teamed up’ again – another yuu huu to the Justine – with LibNat to pass that Sea Dumping Bill allowing to allow the SANTOS to dump its pollution in the Timor Sea.
If you want to see a climate con artist and a climate criminal at work at the same time….Keep Watching the ALP.
Election25, you know what to do now – DON’T VOTE for the LabLibNat Fossil Fuel Cartel.
So why want the reply to the echo printed? This does reek of greens bias by the echo.
Was
These are the hard decisions responsible Govts have to make, yes to comprehensively combat global warming all forms of of burning fossil fuels should immediately cease world wide, only a complete ideological nut case would think that is going to happen. However in the interim only a complete nut case of a Govt would allow Australian businesses and households to run out of cheap reliable energy while the steady march to renewables takes place. The choice here is quite simple, vote Green for a complete shutdown of the economy, or use your intelligence and vote Labor for an orderly transition to a low carbon economy.
Keith, “The choice here is quite simple, vote Green for a complete shutdown of the economy, or use your intelligence and vote Labor for an orderly transition to a low carbon economy.”, stop your mindless regurging of talking points copied to you from ALP HQ.
It is untrue to write, “vote Green for a complete shutdown of the economy”. But that’s the sort of anti-Greens rubbish that we always get from you.
The transition that Australia / Planet needs is the transition from fossil fuel usage onto renewable energy usage.
This ‘orderly transition’ of yours, under the ALP, is now revealed; the transition from one climate destructive fossil fuel to another climate destructive fossil fuel, the ‘transition’ from Coal to embedding Gas / Methane for decades and decades to come – past 2050 if the reckless and dangerous Ablo / ALP have their way.
We are already living a climate catastrophe and the time, effort, finance ploughed into maintaining and expanding fossil fuel usage is diverting away from getting off fossil fuels and onto renewable energy sources.
Australia’s emissions went up 4million tonnes 2022/23.
Methane emissions aren’t properly accounted for at the moment. Methane is multiple times more damaging as greenhouse gas than CO2 , yet here comes PM Aldo with more Methane with this Future Methane Strategy.
It really is bonkers.
The LibNat never hide their little interest in progressing renewable energy.
On the other hand, preElection22 the ALP talked up a huge game on environment and climate.
But ;
EPBC real reform has been shelved.
PEP11 wasn’t cancelled
The GAB being used as a dumping ground for pollution wasn’t rescinded.
The ‘Climate Trigger’ vanished from the ALP lexicon.
Now we getting the answer why, PM Ablo dishes up this Future Methane Strategy bollocks.
The ALP has betrayed the Australian public on climate and environment.
The ALP has shown itself to be as reckless and dangerous as LibNat.
Election25 can’t come quick enough.
If anyone cares about climate and environment then DON’T vote for the hand puppet of the fossil fuel industry, the LabLibNat Cartel, that merrily pockets $’shundredsofthousands each year from fossil fuel industry ‘donations’.
Change your vote to candidates that aren’t bought off by fossil fuel industry who embrace the climate science and the actions that the science tells us need doing – Vote for Greens / Teals / Independent candidates.,
Wow, Joachim old son what a reply, did someone hit a Green nerve, OUCH?, or did your handlers over at Greens HQ tell you to up the anti on Greens propaganda? You and your irresponsible mob of idealistic wannabees are as far from reality as ever. As I previously said, all I am hearing is recycled Green noise from a fanatic and the one thing Aussies can breath easy about is that on the Sunday morning after the next Federal election there will be NO Greens Govt or even a Greens coalition Govt to wreck this great country, vote Labor for sanity.