Release date: 07 December 2008
TERRY MILLS
OPPOSITION LEADER
PETER CHANDLER
SHADOW ENVIRONMENT MINISTER
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
December 7th,
2009
GREENING THE NORTHERN TERRITORY
The Country Liberals will increase investment in renewable
power to 100MW by 2025 and commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 60%
across the Territory by 2050.
These are the key initiatives in the Country Liberals new
policy – Growth, Sustainability and the Climate Change Challenge, released
today by Opposition Leader Terry Mills and Shadow Environment Minister Peter
Chandler.
The policy, which builds on the one launched in the lead-up
to last year’s Territory election, sets realistic policy goals which the
Opposition believes will provide a benchmark for other jurisdictions.
The policy launch is timed to coincide with this week’s
Copenhagen Climate conference.
Key initiatives include:
· Allocation of $10million a year to
be used for construction of renewable power generation capacity with a target
output of 100MW.
· Establishment of a 5 year, $5millon
Renewables Fund to promote development of renewable energy sources
· A 25% renewable energy target by
2025
· A 50% emissions reduction in
Government leased buildings by 2012
· Attainment of an 8 Star energy
rating on all new Territory Government buildings by 2017
· Energy efficiency audit of all
public housing by 2015
· A 50% cut in NT Fleet emissions
· Solar capacity at all Territory
schools by 2015
· A procurement weighting given to
green focussed businesses tendering for Government work
“The Country Liberals are placing a value on the Northern
Territory’s environment,” Mr Mills said.
“The budgetary contributions outlined in today’s
announcement state very clearly that preserving the Territory’s environment and
tackling climate change are very high policy priorities for the Country
Liberals.
“The isolation of the Northern Territory’s population
centres means the economies of delivering renewable energy outweigh the cost of
supplying power from the grid.
“The Country Liberals will do everything possible to replace
the use of petroleum based power generation in remote communities with
renewables – and will lead from the front by bringing about reductions in
Government emissions.
“We believe if the Government provides the lead in climate
change reductions then the rest of the community will follow.”
Mr Chandler said the history of the Country Liberals is
steeped in providing green alternatives for the Northern Territory.
“Nationally, electricity generation is responsible for 50%
of greenhouse gas emissions, in the Territory that figure is closer to 25%,” Mr
Chandler said.
“That’s because a previous Country Liberals Government took
the tough decision to construct a gas-based power station and built a pipeline
up the Territory’s spine between Darwin and Alice Springs.
“It was the Country Liberals that worked hard in the late
1990s to bring low emission LNG to the Territory and sealed the deal that led
to construction of the Alice Springs to Darwin railway that significantly
reduced truck traffic on our roads.
“This policy provides a clear way forward to the reduction
of greenhouse gases in the Territory.
“I hope the Henderson Government shares our commitment and
dedication to fighting climate change.”
Further
comment: Terry Mills 0418 833 594
Peter
Chandler 0429 076 493
