Climate Action Moreland: people in Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner and Glenroy wanting action on climate change

Brumby can’t see the world’s biggest polluter through the smokestacks!

July 11, 2010 at 12:12 pm morelandclimategroup 1 comment

The problem is Hazelwood but Brumby can’t see the solution

Our campaign to close the Hazelwood power station is working. How else would you explain the Brumby government, four months out from the State election, leaking to the Age that they are contemplating closing one quarter of Hazelwood? But … one quarter? That’s only half of half the job!

The announcement is big news and shows that all our efforts are really making a difference. It shows that grassroots campaigning, like door knocking and holding community stalls, is really successful.

But we need to tell Brumby one quarter just simply isn’t enough. This means that three quarters of the world’s most polluting power station will stay open and continue to pollute indefinitely. If he’s looking for a compromise that will satisfy the community that his government is prepared to take action on climate change, this isn’t it.

There are eight generators at the Hazelwood power station. There are rumours that one is already broken, meaning that this announcement amounts to only one generator being shut down.

Green-wash before elections
This week Prime Minister Gillard will make her policy announcement on climate change, that by all accounts will be a rehashing of already allocated money and planned projects. The kind of tinkering that amounts to delay and denial of the seriousness of the climate problem.

Brumby’s leak says all they need to close a quarter of Hazelwood is more money. This leaves the door open for Gillard to help fund the Brumby quarter-baked plan. Both the Feds and State labor might look good, but actually their policy will protect Australia’s most polluting power station from closure.

So – this means we need to keep up our campaign. The government is clearly listening to us and we need to push forward to get the result that will really make a difference for the climate.

Entry filed under: Replace Hazelwood. Tags: Brumby government, Brunswick, coal, Hazelwood, Hazelwood power station, Moreland.