Iemma overrides Costa on Environment - 30 May 2006

Greens MP and Environment Spokesperson Ian Cohen said today that the Premier is at last steering the Government in the right direction following his statement on the environment this morning but warned that his comments need to be put in the context of his Government’s less than impressive environmental record.

“It was encouraging to hear Mr Iemma talk of water recycling, stormwater harvesting, and encouraging domestic use of grey water. Although they have only taken small steps so far, it does shows a positive change in the culture of wastewater disposal.” Mr Cohen said.

“Support for the ending of broadscale land clearing is an excellent plan, but it needs to be placed in context. Land clearing has continued unabated for 3 years and the current laws are riddled with flaws. Compliance has been woeful and private logging is still an exemption and massive loophole. Let us hope that this announcement signals a massive improvement rather than more of the same. The expansion of National Parks by an additional nineteen and a half thousand hectares is to be commended, as is the increase in their funding.

“Foremost among the worrying omissions was his silence on the Building Sustainability Index Scheme (BASIX). The proposed upgrade to BASIX must go ahead without exemptions for high-rise apartments if it is to have any real effect in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Environment Minister Bob Debus said at this morning’s announcement that climate change was the consequence of thousands of wrong decisions. The Premier should heed the words of his Minister and make the right decision to commit in full to the new BASIX targets. This Government’s silence on developer issues continues to be deafening.

“Mr Iemma spoke of wanting to save the Murray, and preserving our state’s iconic rivers. The purchase of water for the Riverbank scheme is a fine idea but it wouldn’t need to be purchased if the Government hadn’t given perpetual water rights to irrigators in the first place, and legislated to change the definition of environmental water so that it simply means ‘water left over after all allocations are met’. Mr Iemma would also do well to end the clear felling of the Murray River Red Gums by Forestry NSW.

“A commitment to renewable energy rather than being caught up in the red herring that is the debate over nuclear energy was another positive, as was his promise that nuclear power stations would remain illegal in NSW. However there was no mention of specific targets for the state’s use of renewable energy, nor was there a target set for reducing NSW greenhouse gas emissions.

“Has Mr Iemma the authority to override recidivist environmental vandals (most notably Michael Costa) in his own party? If action matches rhetoric this is a significant and positive shift in ALP direction” Mr Cohen said.