Greens: End $13 billion fossil fuel subsidies for big mining companies
The Australian Greens have released new costings by the Parliamentary Budget Office that show that Labor's spending on fossil fuel subsidies for wealthy mining companies will cost Australian taxpayers more than $13 billion over the next four years.
"Why is the Gillard Government planning to hand over $13 billion in taxpayer's money to big miners like Gina Rinehart, Twiggy Forrest and Clive Palmer while they take up to $100 a week from the pockets of single parents? This makes absolutely no sense," Senator Christine Milne said.
The fossil fuel subsidies for the mining companies that the Greens would remove are:
Diesel fuel tax rebates - $7.95 billion over four years;
Accelerated depreciation on assets - $1.85 billion over four years; and
Accelerated depreciation on exploration - $4.05 billion over four years.
"In one year alone, Labor plans to spend $4.45 billion on these fossil fuel subsidies - that's more than enough to increase Newstart by $50 a week and reverse cuts to s |
Christine Milne interview on ABC 24 Breakfast
Christine Milne was interviewed by ABC 24 Breakfast program on high speed rail. The latest report on high speed rail, released today, is part of the Greens' agreement with Labor to form government. |
Greens congratulate James Price Point campaigners
Greens Leader Christine Milne congratulated campaigners around Australia who forced Woodside to reconsider its gas hub at James Price Point.
"I congratulate all the campaigners in the Kimberley and around the country, and especially Chris Maher, Greens candidate for the Kimberley, West Australian MLC Robin Chapple and our Federal Senators Rachel Siewert and Scott Ludlam on the outstanding leadership they've contributed to this campaign," Christine Milne said.
"Now that Woodside is reconsidering its project, it's important that everyone steps up their efforts to prevent them from carrying out any construction at James Price Point.
"Now they're on the run, it's time to make sure they are gone forever and James Price Point is safe from industrialisation.
"It's time for the West Australian Government to end the compulsory acquisition process for James Price Point, and Woodside should declare that if it does proceed with any offshore platform, the economic benefits should go to the communit |
Transcript: Christine Milne press conference
Subjects: Extreme weather inquiry, fossil fuel subsidies, high speed rail, asylum seekers
CHRISTINE: I've just been at the extreme weather events inquiry, hearing yet again that Australia is unprepared for the extreme weather events that are currently occurring, let alone what's coming, and quite compelling evidence, particularly from a doctor who had been through the Cyclone Yasi experience and also the evacuation in Bundaberg, just talking about there's a real lack of preparedness and coordination in how to manage evacuations and how to manage having the right personnel still available whilst they are worrying about their own families as well. It's obvious that we need to do a lot more in coordination and there was a strong recommendation that we that we have a national plan for dealing with a terrorist emergency but we don't have a Commonwealth role, and national planning in dealing with extreme weather events. Really compelling evidence today.
But I'm actually here to talk about th |
