Candidate Responses - House of Representatives – seat of Sydney.
Here in the seat of Sydney there are 7 candidates:
1. Georgina ANDERSON – Liberal
*2. Adrian FORD – Citizens Electoral Council
*3. Jenny LEONG – The Greens
4. John LEE - Christian Democrats (Fred Nile Group)
*5. Jane WARD – Independent
*6. Tanya PLIBERSEK – Labor
7. Mayo MATERAZZO – Democrats
* These candidates responded to our questionnaire.
1. What are your party’s Greenhouse Gas Emission targets?
Adrian FORD: The Citizens Electoral Council does not have any Greenhouse Gas Emission targets. Climate change alarmists are behind a massive financial swindle, which as is intended; we will pay through the nose.
William Kininmonth, head of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's National Climate Centre (1986-1998), states: “The evidence advanced by the IPCC, that human activity will cause dangerous interference with the climate system, is illusory." Mr Kininmonth’s views on climate change are very common in the scientific community, despite the chattering from numerous unqualified journalists, bureaucrats and second-rate Arts graduates like Al Gore. Even within the IPCC, many scientists take exception to the usual gobbledygook that we see in much of the mainstream media. For example, Prof. Yuri Izrael, IPCC vice-chairman states: “There is no serious threat to the climate.”
Climate change has occurred for billions of years through natural solar cycles and anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions have had a minuscule impact on climate. Carbon dioxide is actually a minor so-called “greenhouse gas” and 450 million years ago, when its concentration was ten times higher than today, the Earth went into an ice age. More carbon dioxide should be welcomed as it enhances vegetation growth and crops will survive in drier climates.
However, it would be foolish to attempt increasing our carbon dioxide emissions for this goal when our economy produces only about 1.5% of the total anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. Moreover, we should be moving towards more efficient nuclear derived power, which has the added benefit of reducing levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone and fine particulate matter—all of which are associated with respiratory/health problems.
Jenny LEONG: 30% - 2020 below 1990 levels. 80% - 2050 – identified by Scientists
Jane WARD:
Tanya PLIBERSEK: 60% by 2050
2. How will the party achieve these targets?
Adrian FORD: As referenced above, we don’t have a target.
Jenny LEONG: MRET
Energy efficiency
Low carbon economy – equitable.
[There are] issues around social justice in terms of increase in costs. Encourage people to reduce energy use, facilitate people moving into a low carbon economy.
Carbon emission scheme – ‘price on carbon’
Jane WARD:
Tanya PLIBERSEK: We’ve already made a number of commitments.
We are committed to mandatory renewable energy targets.
Whole host of things in domestic and public buildings:
• phasing out of electric hot water systems by 2012
• up to 200,000 households will have access to $10,000 low interest loans to do energy efficient things and put in rainwater tanks
• every school in Australia would become a solar school
• reduce energy use in public buildings, one’s that are owned by the government and office buildings
• ratify Kyoto
• carbon trading system
• $500 million clean coal fund
• green car design and construction grant
3. Do you know / How do you feel about the subsidies given to the fossil fuel industry?
Adrian FORD: Wind and solar power receives far more government assistance, so subsidies for the fossil fuel industry are a relatively minor issue. Rather than subsidies, our government should direct low interest credit into power generation through a new government-run National Bank
Jenny LEONG: Most disturbing thing I’ve heard recently is Alexander Downer sits on Asia development bank board and subsidise, to create jobs, coal fired power in places like Bangladesh. Most affected by rising sea levels.
Not enough investment in renewables, being moved overseas.
Greens don’t take donations from big corporations.
[This issue] needs to be questioned what impact on policies.
Jane WARD: I don't support subsidies to fossil fuel industry
Tanya PLIBERSEK: The subsidies are perverse, and subsidizing the coal industry and saying that wind and solar are not economically viable is perverse. I do think that you are going to have to improve the argument on China because China’s building as many coal fired power plants in a month as we have in NSW.
4. Would you support legislation that prohibits new coal projects and coal fired power stations?
Adrian FORD: No. However, government credit should preference nuclear energy over coal. Current coal fired power stations need assistance to keep running so they continue to supply needed power while we make the transition towards nuclear power.
Jenny LEONG: Yes – Greens policy is to phase out coal industry
Reality – need a transition to retrain in to sustainable renewable energy jobs.
Jeopardising tourist jobs, organic food jobs. Retrain those workers in to renewable energy.
Jane WARD:
Tanya PLIBERSEK: I’d have to take a case by case approach on that I’m not going to start imagining where they might be and what they might look that.
I can’t answer that without knowing what sort of prohibition you mean.
No I can’t agree with that.
5. Do you have 100% accredited green power?
Adrian FORD: No. So-called green power is a fraud as indicated above.
Jenny LEONG: Yes
Jane WARD: Yes
Tanya PLIBERSEK: Yes
