Uniting Church in Australia National Assembly
Media Release
Amy Goodhew, National Communications Unit: 02 8267 4227 / 0421 785 488
22 October 2009
For immediate release
UNITING CHURCH OPPOSES FURTHER WEAKENING OF CPRS
The Uniting Church in Australia has written to MPs and Senators, urging them to vote for a
strengthened Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.
National Director of UnitingJustice Australia, Rev. Elenie Poulos, said “We are unable to support
any further weakening of the CPRS which compromises its integrity, increases support for polluting
industries, and holds back Australia’s transition to a low carbon society.
“The future of the global economy will rest on green and clean energy. Amendments which do not
support such economic development in Australia are, therefore, both misdirected and short-
sighted,” she said.
“We fail to see how more assistance for coal-fired electricity generators will do anything other
than compensate for bad investment decisions and hinder the uptake of renewable and low-
emissions energy alternatives at a cost to the Australian community of billions of dollars.
“Funds should instead be directed as
a priority to assisting low-income households with direct
compensation and energy-efficiency measures, and for assistance to communities that will bear the
brunt of Australia’s transition to a low energy-intensive future.”
The Uniting Church in Australia has a long history of concern for the integrity of all creation and
regards climate change as a serious threat to the future of life on earth.
Rev. Poulos said, “We believe it is vital that Australia does all it can towards an international
agreement to stabilise and reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.
“As one of the countries most threatened by the effects of climate change, it is overwhelmingly in
Australia’s national interest to see a comprehensive, effective global agreement at the United
Nations climate change talks in Copenhagen this December.
“It is the hope of the Uniting Church that the Federal Government, the Opposition and all
parliamentarians will put the environment first when considering this scheme. The future of our
children and our grandchildren depend on it.”
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Rev. Poulos is available for comment.
NEWS 
