ENVIRONMENT

Protecting our natural environment is vital. Current neglect and mismanagement must give way to serious efforts on the most pressing issues. Latest News The latest report by The Climate Institute indicates that despite the issue of climate change reaching a tipping point, Australia is 'adrift compared to other developed countries'. The full copy of the report can be found on The Climate Institute's website: www.climateinstitute.org.au/cia/cianews.html Feds Should Follow SA on Greenhouse Gas Cuts - Senator Andrew Bartlett 28 June 2006 Youth Poll: Tackle Climate Change - Senator Natasha Stott Despoja 27 June 2006 Comission pours cold water on Governments aid to the Murray - Senator Andrew Bartlett 15 June 2006 Fuel Tax Bill will kill off alternative fuels - Senator Lyn Allison 15 June 2006 More of our Environment press releases More of our Energy and Resources press releases Review of matters of National Environmental Significance Submission from the Australian Democrats May 2005 [pdf 34kb] Our Environment Action Agenda Climate Change Climate change is already happening and seriously threatens our way of life. While the major parties dither, the Democrats have constructive solutions: A small carbon levy to fund energy efficiency. Emissions trading for big business. Tighter controls on power station emissions. Raising the renewable energy target from the current 1% to 10% by 2010.  Ratifying Kyoto and helping developing countries reduce emissions Sustainable cities For healthy, vibrant and sustainable cities, the Democrats stand for: More accessible and efficient public transport. Incentives for fuel-efficient cars and fuels like ethanol, LPG, natural gas, biodiesel and hydrogen. Tighter building standards for energy and water efficiency. Biodiversity Democrat amendments to Federal environment laws protect vulnerable species from development but Australia must go further to stop more native extinction by:   Expanding national parks, including the Great Barrier Reef, old growth forests and particularly the important and diverse marine areas of south and south eastern Australia. Stopping land clearing. Improving quarantine measures, banning invasive plant species from nurseries and providing shipping ballast water treatment in ports.   Anti-Nuclear The Democrats are against: Uranium mining. Sending nuclear waste to outback South Australia. The unnecessary new nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights.   Rivers & Water Irrigation has extracted so much water from rivers and aquifers that many hardly flow and are silted and salty. The Democrats say we should: Invest in irrigation channel improvements that could save billions of litres. Reduce water allocations to sustainable levels. Adjust the price of water to reflect the true environmental cost and pay for more efficient practices. Improve effluent treatment and reuse the 1300,000,000,000 litres of water currently discharged from 148 ocean outfalls. Give important rivers and wetlands heritage protection. EFFECTIVE BY NATURE - OUR TRACK RECORD Introduced Australia’s first World Heritage bills. Instrumental in stopping the Franklin Dam and Jabiluka Uranium mine. Improved Federal environment laws with over 400 Democrat amendments. Set up most comprehensive review to date of Government performance on greenhouse. Opposed siting nuclear waste dumps in outback South Australia. Voted against Regional Forests Agreement Bill. Introduced a bill for a code of ethical conduct for Australian companies operating overseas. Made land donated for conservation tax deductible. Negotiated Alternative fuels Conversion program which put ethanol powered buses on streets of Melbourne. Ensured greater protection for Sydney Harbour foreshore. Initiated Senate inquiries into urban and rural water use. Outlawed pollution by ships in Great Barrier Reef. Policy Issue Sheets Greenhouse and Energy Urban Water Rural Water Forests Nuclear Issues Biodiversity GM Organisms Introduced Species Coasts and Oceans Ethical Investment LINKS Environment press releases Energy and Resources press releases Senator Andrew Bartlett's Environment page Join the EcoDemocrats network     KEY SENATE REPORTS Lurching Forward Looking Back - environmental and budgetary implications of the government's Energy White Paper Inquiry into Rural Water Usage     Inquiry into Australia's Plantation Forestry     Turning Back the Tide - the invasive species challenge     Inquiry into Australia’s management of urban water The Heat is on: Australia's greenhouse future Regulating Australia's uranium mines Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Bill     HELP US We need support to continue our uniquely effective campaigning for the environment. Donate securely online. Join the Democrats online Contact us to volunteer for the election Register for email updates