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Environmental Policies
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‘Labor’s Plan for Northern Australia’
More Information at alp.org.au
Kevin Rudd will act decisively on climate change and secure our water supplies. Kevin Rudd’s fresh ideas will:
- ratify the Kyoto Protocol, introduce an emission trading scheme, set a target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent by 2050 and substantially increase investment in renewable energy, like solar and wind.
- provide rebates of up to $500 for around 500,000 households across Australia to install rainwater tanks or grey water pipes.
- provide loans of up to $10,000 to help up to 200,000 families invest in solar and practical water and energy savings devices.
- invest $500 million in clean coal technology and $500m in developing Australian green cars.
- put an end to Mr Howard’s plan for 25 nuclear reactors, coast to coast across Australia.
Federal Labor To Create Up To 300 Rangers As Part Of Indigenous Economic Development Strategy
Media Statement - 5th October 2007
A Rudd Labor Government will create up to 300 new ranger jobs to work on the environment and stimulate enterprise in carbon trading as part of a broader Indigenous economic development program. The ranger program represents an important step in Federal Labor’s Indigenous economic development strategy.
Reforming and improving the Community Development and Employment Program (CDEP) will also play a role in Federal Labor’s efforts to get more Indigenous people into non-CDEP jobs and give local business a chance to become economically viable.
Indigenous Rangers Program
Federal Labor will invest $90 million over five years to train and employ up to an additional 300 Indigenous rangers on Indigenous lands and waters to undertake environmental services specialising in noxious weed and feral pest eradication, fire management, fencing and vegetation restoration and the protection of endangered species.
Training will also be provided for these rangers using a nationally accredited land management qualification, supported by local knowledge. Federal Labor will increase funding to a total of $50 million over five years to improve and expand the successful Indigenous Protected Areas Program within the national reserve system.
Australia’s Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) and other indigenous owned or managed land cover 120 million hectares or roughly 16 per cent of Australia’s land mass, much of it in remote parts of the continent.
IPAs are recognised for their natural and cultural heritage significance. They are important biodiversity hotspots and also represent one of Australia’s major opportunities for carbon abatement and biodiversity protection –environmental services that benefit all Australians and which increasingly have an economic value in the market place.
Federal Labor will also provide opportunities for indigenous participation in fledgling carbon markets by establishing the legal framework for creation of carbon credits from altered fire management and providing $10 million to build local capacity, build partnerships between the private sector and Indigenous communities, research its scientific and market potential and promote sales to growing national and international markets.
These initiatives will aim to provide economic sustainability and greater independence for local Indigenous people, alongside other land-based enterprise like sustainable forestry, renewable energy development, tourism, mining and horticulture.
Labor’s Indigenous economic development strategy
Economic development lies at the heart of a Rudd Labor Government’s efforts to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians. Federal Labor’s strategy will involve a partnership between, and be driven by, the private sector and Indigenous people, rather than relying solely on government programs.
Federal Labor will encourage partnerships between businesses such as mining companies, tourist operators, art co-operatives and local communities to ensure sustainable jobs at fair rates of pay are created. Sixty percent of Australia’s mine sites are located next to remote Indigenous communities, providing real opportunities for work in rehabilitating mine sites and carbon abatement.
Federal Labor wants to maximise these economic opportunities for Indigenous people by ensuring training and other programs provide people with skills employers need. Federal Labor’s CDEP reforms will apply nationally in remote areas, including in the Northern Territory.
Northern Territory communities affected by the Government’s current changes will have CDEP made available to them under Labor. As part our reforms to CDEP, Federal Labor will ensure payments received on the program in prescribed Northern Territory communities will be eligible for income quarantining.
Under a Rudd Labor Government, a reformed CDEP will focus on:
- Facilitating the provision of flexible training to make people work-ready including providing literacy, numeracy and IT classes and driver education;
- Improving on-the-job training opportunities in industries such as the mining, tourism, forestry, arts, horticulture, pastoral, construction and ranger services;
- Incubating enterprises through subsidised wages and equipment and securing business expertise and mentoring;
- Facilitating the provision of community-based adult education with accredited trainers;
- Over time, offering restructured incentives so young people are encouraged to choose apprenticeships and study;
- Providing incentives for CDEP participants to upgrade their qualifications and move into other jobs in their community or region.
- Encouraging CDEP providers to move towards a business model that better supports local industries and community enterprises through human resources and development; and
- Developing five year regional job strategies with industry employers and governments which contain job targets
Federal Labor supports the Intervention into Northern Territory Indigenous communities, and the Intervention will continue if Federal Labor wins the upcoming Federal election.
For more information on the proposed ranger program go to http://www.alp.org.au/media/1007/msenhiaNA050.php
Federal Labor’s Plan For Climate Change Impact On Iconic Areas Including The Great Barrier Reef
Media Statement - 26th June 2007
A Rudd Labor Government will fast track a Climate Change Adaptation Plan for Australia’s World Heritage and iconic areas, including the stunning Great Barrier Reef, the Australian Alps and Kakadu National Park.
Under Federal Labor’s Climate Change Adaptation Plan, coral bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef will be monitored and documented through aerial, satellite and underwater surveys.
The plan would also monitor stresses on marine life, including their eating patterns and movements.
Other monitoring of iconic areas includes the impact of saltwater incursion on Kakadu National Park and the impact of decreased snowfall in the Australian Alps.
Climate change is a concern for both economic and environmental reasons. In 2005/06, tourism contributed 3.9 per cent to Australian GDP and 10.5 per cent of exports. Yet key tourism destinations that centre on our natural icons are at risk.
In Australia’s Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, the value of ecosystem goods and services, including tourism, is about US$132 - $148 million per year.
The Great Barrier Reef contributes $5.8 billion to the Australian economy and is responsible for 63,000 full time equivalent jobs (source: Access Economics 2005).
The science is in. It is very clear. Climate change is already hurting Australia, intensifying the current drought and increasing coral bleaching.
As a result of unusually high sea surface temperatures, eight mass bleaching events have occurred on the Great Barrier Reef since 1979. Most appear to have occurred in 1998 and 2002, affecting up to 50 per cent of reefs within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Yet, there are no known serious events known before 1979.
Many of Australia’s most precious areas face significant risks from climate change. These include:
- The Great Barrier Reef which risks devastation of up to 97 per cent from coral bleaching with temperature increases as small as 2°C.
- The Kakadu wetlands which could lose up to 80 per cent of its wetlands to saltwater incursion from a 30cm rise in sea levels.
- Massive species extinction in the Daintree Rainforest.
Not only are these areas valuable in their own right, but they are also economic powerhouses.
After 11 years of Howard Government scepticism and inaction, Australia is unprepared for the dramatic impacts of climate change.
This has hurt communities that are vulnerable to climate change on the coast and major cities, as well as our farmers.
And it has put at risk Australia’s iconic natural wonders.
Mr Howard has no plan for helping Australians adapt to climate change because he doesn’t get climate change and has been negligently slow to respond.
That’s why Federal Labor will develop a new adaptation plan for Australia’s World Heritage Areas and iconic areas – and as an urgent priority.
For all policies relating to the environment see http://www.alp.org.au/policy/index.php#climate_change_&_environment
The information provided on this page is sourced directly from www.alp.org.au and www.kevin07.com.au and only minor formatting has been altered.
