The environment organisations involved are: The Wilderness Society, Friends of the Earth Australia, Greenpeace Australia Pacific,
Environment Victoria, Queensland Conservation Council, Nature Conservation Council of NSW, Conservation Council of SA, Environment
Tasmania, Conservation Council WA, and Conservation Council ACT Region.
Media Release
13th August, 2009
Fix and pass Renewable Energy Target Bill,
but don’t lock in failure with CPRS
A coalition of leading environmental organisations, including all state-based conservation councils
today called on the Federal Government to de-couple the Renewable Energy Target Bill from the
CPRS legislation so the bill can be passed by the Senate and investment in renewables can begin,
creating thousands of clean energy jobs.
The groups also called on the government to re-draft its CPRS legislation to remove the massive
subsidies for polluting industries and implement strong emissions targets that will properly
respond to the climate emergency.
“The government should stop playing politics with the climate and kickstart investment in
renewable energy by passing the Renewable Energy Target Bill,” said Mark Wakeham,
Campaigns Director with Environment Victoria.
“The Renewable Energy Target should be decoupled from the CPRS and put to a vote this sitting.
However, the legislation needs to be improved to ensure it achieves its targets for real renewable
energy generation.”
While the groups are calling for the passage of the renewable energy target, they do not support
the CPRS.
“The CPRS legislation should be sent back to the drawing board. In its current form it risks
locking in polluting power for decades rather than promote the clean energy future Australians
want and the climate needs,” said Toby Hutcheon, Executive Director of Queensland
Conservation (QCC)
“We need a strong price on climate pollution, but we also need direct regulation and investment
in programs to transform Australia to a clean energy economy. This means rolling out energy
efficiency programs, re-powering Australia with clean energy, massive investments in sustainable
transport infrastructure, and a focus on new clean energy jobs rather than protecting the big
polluters.
“Both major parties need to stop treating climate change like a political football and get on with
it,” said Greenpeace spokesperson John Hepburn. “We could have cut emissions by more than
5% in the time it has taken the major parties to debate the CPRS. We can begin the transition to
a low carbon economy with today’s technology - as outlined in our report, Plan B - An Agenda
for Immediate Climate Action.
Plan B: An Agenda for Immediate Climate Action, can be downloaded at
For More Information:
Toby Hutcheon 0419 664503
John Hepburn, Greenpeace (0407 231 172)
NEWS 
