24
February 2009 - The Australian Government
has expressed its extreme disappointment
at the decision by Iceland and Norway to
maintain and potentially increase their
annual whale harvest.
Environment Minister
Peter Garrett said Iceland's interim government
had maintained its predecessor's commercial
whaling quota increase for 2009 of 150 fin
whales and 100 to 150 minke whales a year
over the next five years. Similarly, Norway
has renewed its whaling quota for 1052 minke
whales in 2008, up from 796 in 2006.
Mr Garrett said the
news was further evidence that the status-quo
in the gridlocked International Whaling
Commission was unacceptable and in urgent
need of reform, with countries continuing
to increase their whaling quotas unilaterally.
"The Australia
Government is absolutely opposed to commercial
and so-called scientific whaling and we
are actively working diplomatically and
through advancing reforms in the International
Whaling Commission to ensure the global
moratorium is upheld by all nations.
"In the same way
as we condemn Japan's whaling program in
the name of science, we urge the governments
of Iceland and Norway to cease commercial
whaling immediately."
Mr Garrett said Iceland
announced in May 2008 that it would resume
commercial whaling less than a year after
it had announced to the world it would cease
the practice.
"I will be writing
to Iceland's interim Minister of Fisheries,
Steingrimur Sigfusson, urging him to reconsider,"
he said.
Mr Garrett said the
news was particularly distressing given
the fin whale was listed as endangered on
the internationally-recognised IUCN Red
List.
Norway continues to
undertake commercial whaling under an objection
to the 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling.
Release of Carbon Pollution
Reduction Scheme guidance paper for emissions-intensive
trade-exposed activities
18 February 2009 - The
Department of Climate Change today released
a guidance paper for the assessment of activities
for the purposes of the emissions-intensive
trade-exposed (EITE) assistance program
under the Rudd Government's Carbon Pollution
Reduction Scheme.
"The Carbon Pollution
Reduction Scheme will start reducing Australia's
emissions from next year while at the same
time supporting business and industry through
our comprehensive assistance measures,"
Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator
Penny Wong, said.
"We are very mindful
of the potential impact the Scheme may have
on industry, which is why we have already
set aside over $9 billion to assist a range
of businesses and industries under the Scheme
out to 2012.
"Through the Carbon
Pollution Reduction Scheme, the Government
is supporting the jobs of today while building
the low pollution economy of the future."
The guidance paper outlines
the assessment process and provides guidance
to industry on the requirements for this
assessment. This is the next step in implementing
the decisions made in the Government's White
Paper.
The assessment process
will inform the Government's decision on
which activities in the economy are eligible
to receive EITE assistance, the rates of
assistance that will apply to eligible activities
and the basis for allocations to these eligible
activities.
The Government will
make final decisions taking into consideration
the policy framework outlined in the White
Paper and the information provided in this
assessment process. The Government's final
decisions will be reflected in the Scheme
regulations.
"The assessment
timeframe outlined in the paper will ensure
that certainty is provided to as many eligible
EITE activities as possible by mid-year
in draft regulations," Senator Wong
said.
"This will give
businesses the certainty they need to invest
for the long-term, supporting jobs in key
industries as we move to a low pollution
economy.
"I would encourage
all relevant stakeholders to engage fully
with this process."
The guidance paper is
available on the Department of Climate Change
website at www.climatechange.gov.au and
inquiries from business can be directed
to the Household and Industry Assistance
Branch in the Department at the email address:
EITE@climatechange.gov.au
+ More
Secure drinking water
for Lakes communities
18 February 2009 - The
Commonwealth and South Australian Governments
joined Lower Lakes communities today to
celebrate the completion of a 160-kilometre
pipeline network, delivering a secure drinking
water supply to the region’s homes.
Federal Minister for
Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny
Wong and South Australian Premier Mike Rann
joined Minister for Water Security Karlene
Maywald on-site today to mark the completion
of the project at Tailem Bend, in South
Australia.
The potable pipeline
network is the first in a $120 million integrated
pipeline system for the Lower Lakes, providing
security and continuity of supply for water
users who previously accessed their supply
from the Lower Lakes.
This project is part
of the State Government’s $610 million Murray
Futures package – funded through the Commonwealth’s
Water for the Future program - designed
to change the way the River Murray system
and irrigation industries are managed in
SA.
Senator Wong says the
new potable pipeline will supply water to
households and properties in the Raukkan,
Narrung, Meningie and Langhorne Creek districts
and along the Poltalloch Peninsula.
"Until now, many
of the residents in the region have relied
on the Lower Lakes for use in their homes
and for livestock," Senator Wong said.
"Now with the level
of the Lakes receding, and with no end in
sight to this extended drought, the completion
of this pipeline project will mean taps
will be turned on to a filtered River Murray
water supply.
"For these communities,
this means secure water supplies - one of
the key priorities of Water for the Future.
"Now it is important
that energies and resources are focused
on a long term solution for the Lower Lakes
and the Coorong."
Premier Rann says construction
began in October last year and was delivering
water to some homes around the Lakes just
before Christmas.
"At the height
of construction, crews were laying pipes
at about 3.5 kilometres per day so to complete
160 kilometres of pipelines in this short
period is a fantastic achievement.
"The urgent need
to get these pipelines in and operational
has been met. The secure supply is already
helping property owners to water their stock
during what is looking to be a long, hot
summer."
Minister Maywald says
about 200 connections have been installed
to homes in the region.
"For many householders,
it is the first time they have received
mains water, with most of their supply previously
coming from the Lower Lakes, rainfall and
most recently transporting water into their
properties."
Through the Australian
Government’s $12.9 billion Water for the
Future plan, funding for other initiatives
under Murray Futures includes up to:
$120 million for a Lower
lakes pipeline network supplying potable
and irrigation water.
$200m for a long term solution for the Lower
Lakes and Coorong.
$110m for reinvigoration of the irrigation
sector in irrigation communities.
$80m for purchase of water entitlements.
$100m to improve the management of river
wetlands and floodplains from the SA border
to Wellington.
+ More
Power turned on at largest
solar system in Australia
18 February 2009 - Switched
on today, Australia’s largest roof mounted
solar power system will generate more than
500 megawatt hours of clean renewable electricity
every year in the Alice, Environment Minister
Peter Garrett said.
“Less than six months
in the making, more than 1320 photovoltaic
panels now rest on the roof of the Crowne
Plaza in Alice Springs, generating up to
half the hotel’s power needs directly from
the sun every day,” Mr Garrett said.
“This is a fantastic
example of the Australian Government’s commitment
to investing in alternative energy solutions
in our own backyard,” Mr Garrett said.
“I congratulate the
Crowne Plaza for the important role they
will now play in educating visitors from
around the world on Australia’s ability
to create a brighter cleaner future.”
The Crown Plaza project
is part of the Alice Solar City – one of
the seven cities selected for funding under
the Australian Government’s $94 million
Solar Cities program designed to assist
the community in taking practical action
on climate change.
Member for Lingiari,
Warren Snowdon said it is wonderful to see
Alice Springs as the showcase for the largest
solar power system of it’s kind in Australia.
“The Crowne’s 305kw
system will cater to around 50 per cent
of the hotel’s electricity needs daily,
but this figure will grow to around 80 per
cent during low demand periods, thanks to
the Crowne Plaza’s focus on being energy
smart and upgrading a range of fixtures
and fittings throughout the hotel,” said
Mr Snowdon.
“Visitors to the Crowne
Plaza will be able to view the amazing PV
array on the roof of the hotel from the
ground, and then learn about the hotel’s
solar energy performance on the in-house
‘solar channel’ displaying twenty four hour
real time information.”
The Australian Government provided $1.5
million toward construction of the project.
“The Government is committed
to an expanded renewable energy target and
to investing in projects such as this that
will support our goal to have 20 per cent
of Australia’s electricity from renewable
energy by 2020,” Mr Garrett said.
“The Crowne Plaza has
today demonstrated how businesses can make
the switch to clean renewable sources of
energy for the future.”
