The Coalition’s Plan for Real Action on the Environment, Climate Change and Heritage
19-August-2010
The Coalition believes Australia should prepare for the great challenges of climate change and preserving our environment and heritage through Real and Direct Action rather than talk.
In particular, the Coalition believes that with appropriate support and incentives, committed individuals, communities, organisations and companies can help address these great environmental challenges.
The Coalition has already released comprehensive policies on climate change, water conservation, action for the Murray-Darling Basin and the protection of whales and dolphins. These policies offer real opportunities to tackle climate change and environmental degradation on a national basis.
The Coalition’s Plan for Real Action on the Environment and Heritage is based on practical and commonsense proposals.
The Coalition will help local communities clean up their environment, reduce emissions, deal with the pressures of climate change and protect their heritage.
These local initiatives build on the Coalition’s major environmental announcements made earlier this year and during the campaign:
• Action on Climate Change including the creation of a $2.55 billion (over the first four years) Emissions Reduction Fund, additional funding for one million solar homes by 2020, clean energy hubs, solar towns and solar schools, geothermal projects, studies into algal synthesis and the planting of 20 million trees.
• Whale and Dolphin Protection through the establishment of a National Whale Stranding Action Plan, increased dolphin research and international legal action to help stop Japanese whaling.
• Action on Water Conservation including grants to community groups, schools or local government for projects that capture and re-use storm water, as well as a major storm water harvesting project in Adelaide.
• Action for the Murray-Darling Basin including implementation of the Basin Plan, $200 million to extend the Strengthening Basin Communities program, major investments in irrigation infrastructure, the purchase of 150 billion litres of water for the Lower lakes and Coorong and the creation of a $330 million fund to secure future water supplies.
The Coalition’s Plan for Real Local Action on the Environment and Heritage will:
1. Establish a ‘Green Army’The Coalition will establish a 15,000-strong environmental workforce to tackle local and regional environmental priorities.
2. Once-in-a-Century Replenishment of our Soils: Green Carbon InitiativeThe Coalition will provide $10 million to help train farmers to reduce emissions and increase carbon through soils and vegetation so as to maximise results from the Emissions Reduction Fund.
3. A National Energy Efficiency PartnershipThe Coalition’s National Energy Efficiency Partnership will set voluntary energy efficiency targets for Australia’s top 500 commercial energy consumers to improve energy efficiency standards in large premises.
4. The Global Rainforest Recovery PlanThe Coalition will promote an international agreement for a 50 percent reduction in the 8 billion tonnes of annual CO2 emissions from rainforest destruction.
5. Landcare Recovery ProgrammeThe Coalition will radically simplify Landcare for local groups and re-focus it on local projects run by local groups.
6. Community Clean-Up GrantsThe Coalition will provide $9 million for Community Clean-Up Grants which will fund at least 900 local projects with $1 million in additional funding to support the work of Clean Up Australia and Keep Australia Beautiful.
7. Tamar River Clean-UpThe Coalition will provide $2.5 million towards a major dredging programme for the Tamar River.
8. Swan River Recovery ProgrammeThe Coalition will provide $1 million in funding towards wildlife recovery, weed management and river improvement as part of the Swan River Recovery Programme.
9. Top End Cane Toad Clean-Up The Coalition will provide $1 million towards research and deployment of biological control mechanisms and the practical work of the Toad Busters movement or similar organisations.
10. Kimberley Cane Toad Clean-UpThe Coalition will provide $1 million towards control of cane toads in the Kimberley through groups such as Kimberley Toad Busters.
11. Dandenong Ranges Wildlife Recovery, Weed Management and Fuel Reduction ProgrammeThe Coalition will provide $3 million towards wildlife recovery, weed management and fuel reduction in the Dandenong Ranges under the guidance of a local steering group. In addition, the Coalition will seek National Heritage listing of the public parklands within the Ranges.
12. Greater Western Sydney Conservation CorridorThe Coalition will provide $15 million towards a Greater Western Sydney Conservation Corridor.
13. Great Barrier Reef and Crown of Thorns Protection PlanThe Coalition’s Great Barrier Reef and Crown of Thorns Protection Plan will allocate $3 million to assist farmers and community groups to reduce nutrient run-off into catchments that flow into the Great Barrier Reef. In addition, we will provide $2 million towards establishing a Crown of Thorns Starfish Eradication Plan.
14. Dugong and Turtle Protection PlanThe Coalition will commit $2.6 million to work with Indigenous communities to help protect the dugong and turtle populations of North Queensland and to establish Indigenous Ranger, marine debris and anti-poaching enforcement programmes.
15. International Conservation of Endangered SpeciesThe Coalition will provide $0.4 million for the Thin Green Line Foundation’s work and will engage directly with the Indonesian Government to help protect the endangered orang-utans of South East Asia.
16. Australian National Heritage Icons ProgramThe Coalition will establish a National Icons programme to designate and promote national environmental and heritage icons.
17. Historic Matthew Flinders chartThe Coalition will work cooperatively with the United Kingdom Government to have Captain Matthew Flinders’ original 1804 chart of Australia from his 1801-03 circumnavigation of the continent in HMS Investigator returned to Australia on permanent loan. It will be placed on public display at the National Museum of Australia.
18. Changi Wall Heritage ProjectThe Coalition will provide $0.5 million in funding to establish a memorial wall at the Changi Museum in Singapore listing the names of all known Australian service personnel imprisoned in Changi during World War II.
19. Community Heritage GrantsA Coalition Government will invest $1 million to support our heritage through grants of up to $10,000 for community history and heritage organisations for the conservation, development and exhibition of cultural heritage.
20. Solar Continent PolicyA Coalition Government will build on the Direct Action Plan on the Environment and Climate Change and will establish a $1.1 billion Solar Continent Policy comprising:
• A $1 billion Million Solar Roofs Programme for Australian homes, including a Community Solar Programme.
• The $100 million Solar Towns and Solar Schools Programme.
For more information on this policy click here