11 July 2007

Climate Change Bill Decidedly Underwhelming

Youth MPs representing the Green Party are taking steps to register their disapproval of the climate change Bill before the Youth Parliament, and intend to abstain as an act of protest.

"This Bill shows the inability of the Youth Parliament process to mount a genuine debate about responses to climate change," says Youth MP for Sue Kedgley, Jaz Morris.

"The Household Response to Climate Change Bill sets tax incentives for voluntary reductions in household carbon emissions and could cost well over $200 million a year.

"Even with full take up of the Bill's planned voluntary reduction of 10 per cent of household emissions we will not make a dent in our Kyoto commitments, nor any meaningful impact," says Mr Morris.

"We will be tabling a document today indicating our intention to abstain, and will be seeking support from amongst the other youth MPs. We believe it is imperative to distinguish between our strong urge to see action relating to climate change and our disapproval of this perfunctory piece of legislation.

"The Green Party Youth MPs believe that half-hearted bills such as this amount to time wasting - a bill with a veneer of efficacy but no real substance.

"As long as we debate these sorts of bills, we will achieve nothing at an unjustifiable environmental cost. While we are prepared to support the initiative, we are disappointed that the Government is moving at a snail's pace.

"Climate change is an urgent and immediate problem, and requires significant action from all sectors. If the Youth Parliament is to be taken seriously, we need to be given serious issues to tackle, and serious tools with which to tackle them," says Mr Morris.

ENDS

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