Just Transitions

We're back in town

Blog Post | Blog of Sarah Hanson-Young
Tuesday 16th August 2011, 8:23am
by ParisLord in

We politicians are back in Canberra this morning after a five-week winter recess.

Talks with steel workers

Media Release | Spokesperson Bob Brown
Saturday 16th July 2011, 6:05pm
in

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown met with representatives of steel workers in Wollongong today, making good his promise to do so after Opposition Leader Tony Abbott promised to block the Gillard Government's $300 million Steel Transformation Plan when it comes to parliament later this year.

Accompanied by NSW Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon, Senator Brown said their talks were a preliminary exchange of ideas and information.

“These were very worthwhile discussions. I met with representatives of unions hosted by the South Coast Trades and Labour Council and I got a copy of the Green Jobs Illawarra Action Plan," Senator Brown said.

“I look forward to future discussions with the AWU and management about whether the $180m in the steel package earmarked for the region can be spent creating new jobs and achieving a pollution reduction dividend."

Senator Brown challenged Mr Abbott to also meet the steel worker representatives.

NB: from tomorrow Senator Brown will be away for the week and Senator Christine Milne will be acting Australian Greens Leader.

‘Beat the peak’ with energy efficiency for people who need it most: Greens

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Tuesday 19th January 2010, 3:34pm
in

State-owned housing should be the first priority for Government energy efficiency measures such as insulation, the Greens say.


“We must immediately retro-fit all of the State housing stock with energy efficiency measures, including basic steps such as ceiling insulation,” said Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren, the party’s spokesperson on housing.

Greens demand Just Transition for Collie

Media Release | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Friday 18th December 2009, 5:32pm
in

Australian Greens Senator for WA Scott Ludlam will join protestors at Collie, in WA’s southwest, this weekend (19-20 Dec) to call for action by State and Federal governments on climate change and oppose the expansion of the local coal industry.


“This camp has been organised by young people dedicated to making the future a better place – and I wholeheartedly support their efforts,” Senator Ludlam said.


“The organisers have been working over many weeks to engage the Collie community, including holding a public forum, distributing flyers and contacting local people.


“The Australian Greens back their calls for a ‘Just Transition’ for this community of 7,000 people, many of whose livelihoods depends on coal.

Green jobs plan a win for Greens but CPRS will slam the door on those jobs

Media Release | Spokesperson Christine Milne
Thursday 30th July 2009, 12:07pm
in

Prime Minister Rudd's recognition today of the jobs-rich green future is a testament to the work of the Greens, but the Continue Polluting Regardless Scheme will ensure those jobs are not created, the Australian Greens said today.

The Greens particularly welcome the Government's adoption of the Local Green Jobs plan, originally negotiated by the Greens as part of the stimulus package in February this year. The Greens have also consistently called for skills and training packages for electricians, plumbers, builders and all others who will build the zero carbon Australia.

"Mr Rudd seems to be trying to take a step into the future with this green jobs plan, and that is welcome, but he has leg-roped himself to the past with the CPRS," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

A Different World - Speech to the National Press Club

Blog Post | Blog of Christine Milne
Wednesday 17th June 2009, 3:20pm
by TimHollo in

The Government and other naysayers say it can't be done. The Greens say it must be done, so it will be done.

Christine Milne spoke today at the National Press Club in Canberra, televised nationally on ABC1, setting out the Greens' vision for a safe climate and setting that against what the Government is proposing with the CPRS.

You can read the speech here and please use this as an open thread to discuss the issues it raises!

A Different World - Speech to the National Press Club

Speech | Spokesperson Christine Milne
Wednesday 17th June 2009, 2:13pm
in

Thank you for your warm welcome. I begin by acknowledging the Ngunnawal people, the traditional owners of the land.

Gandhi once said, "The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world's problems."

We have reached a point in human history where 'what we do' on this planet imperils our survival. Now is the moment to re-imagine and reconsider 'what we are capable of doing'.

As Kofi Annan said recently, "The world is at a crossroads. [The Copenhagen] negotiators [must] come to the most ambitious agreement ever negotiated or continue to accept mass starvation, mass sickness and mass migration on an ever growing scale. Weak leadership," he said, "is failing humanity."

So what is stopping us from achieving what we are capable of, of reaching 'the most ambitious agreement ever negotiated'?

CPRS will lock out massive jobs boom

Media Release | Spokesperson Christine Milne
Friday 22nd May 2009, 3:59pm
in

The Minerals Council's jobs scare campaign pales into insignificance next to the hundreds of thousands of jobs that would not be created if the Rudd Government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme goes ahead as planned, the Australian Greens said today.

"Transforming Australia into a zero carbon powerhouse would create at least 800,000 jobs, but the CPRS would lock out the potential to create more than a handful," said Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne.

"The Rudd Government's Continue Polluting Regardless Scheme sandbags the old, polluting economy instead of embracing the tremendous potential of wholesale economic transformation.

Combet should offer coal structural adjustment fund

Media Release | Spokesperson Christine Milne
Thursday 7th May 2009, 1:14pm
in

Greg Combet should offer coal workers a structural adjustment package to make sure the transition to a carbon neutral economy does not leave people behind, the Australian Greens said today.

The Greens repeated their call for a 'Just Transitions' strategy on the eve of meetings scheduled between Combet and representatives of the coal sector foreshadowed to see more handouts to cosset existing industry instead of easing the transition to a new, clean base.

"There is a job for everyone in protecting the climate, but we'll have to work hard to make sure these jobs get to everyone that needs them," said Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne.