Draft Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SENATE HAS VOTED IN THE NATIONAL INTEREST
The Australian Environment Foundation
[AEF]
today applauded
the senate vote
against the legislation to introduce a flawed emissions trading scheme that will have
no measurable benefit to the environment.
“This costly scheme is nothing more than a tax on energy that will make Australians
poorer” said Alex Stuart, chairman of the AEF.
“The AEF is on the public record as opposed to this scheme from day one. We
initiated
the first on-line petition to try and inform ordinary Australians that the
proposed ETS would not provide real benefits to them and their families.”
A Galaxy Research poll released last week showed that 80 per cent of Australians
believe they do not have enough information about the effects of the ETS legislation,
whilst 54 per cent do not believe that Australia should pass legislation ahead of the
Copenhagen summit.
An alternative climate policy foreshadowed by the Opposition would allow for an
informed public debate on the effects of the government’s proposed scheme.
“The fact that global temperatures have been declining in spite of increasing levels of
atmospheric carbon dioxide calls into question the veracity of the science on which
this legislation is based and at the very least, further examination is required.”
“This unseemly rush to pass a flawed scheme that has already been modified many
times is not in the national interest.”
“Given that most Australian emissions are the result of coal fired power stations the
government could foster an informed public debate on nuclear energy if it was really
serious about reducing carbon dioxide emissions” concluded Mr Stuart.
-
ENDS -
AEF Chairman: Alex Stuart 0448 807 178
AEF Executive Director: Max Rheese 0428 621 320
The Australian Environment Foundation (AEF) is a not-for-profit, membership-based
environment organisation having no political affiliation. The AEF is a different kind of
environment group, caring for both Australia & Australians. Many of our members
are practical environmentalists – people who actively use and also care for the
environment. We accept that environmental protection and sustainable resource use
are generally compatible. For more information about the AEF visit www.aefweb.info
December 2nd 2009
NEWS 
