THE NSW STATE ELECTION AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

With the NSW election just over a week away, the community is being bombarded with both promises and warnings by political parties and their candidates as well as by independents.  Unsurprisingly the promises are to encourage people to vote for a particular party or candidate and the warnings are about not to vote for the other mob or disaster will strike.

I attended a state election candidates’ event in Grafton several weeks ago and heard both promises and warnings from the four candidates (three representing political parties and one independent) who were seeking to become the Clarence MP.  Some environmental issues were discussed and I was heartened to hear that all candidates were concerned about the Clarence River and opposed any mining in its extensive and fragile catchment.  That was the only issue on which they all agreed.  Since that event another four candidates have emerged so that the state electorate of Clarence now has eight candidates in the March 25 election.

Our new state government has many challenges ahead of it on the environmental front.

NSW is facing accelerating biodiversity loss.  Many people are aware of this in relation to iconic species like the Koala which is threatened with extinction in NSW by 2050 if effective decisive action does not halt its decline.  But biodiversity loss affects all species across all ecosystems – not just the iconic ones.  Our three levels of government - local, state and federal -  are responsible for decisions and legislation which are accelerating species decline.

So what needs to be done at the state government level?  One of the really major improvements would be protection of existing healthy natural habitat from degradation – for example forests, natural\grasslands, wetlands or estuarine habitats.  This means broadscale land-clearing that is currently happening in NSW must be halted and backed up with effective monitoring and compliance procedures.

Another major improvement would be taking into account the cumulative impact of the many apparently small actions or developments on patches of biodiversity across the landscape.  This has been referred to as “death by a thousand cuts” and while it is something  dismissed by politicians and bureaucrats, it is having an accelerating impact on our biodiversity.

Protection of habitat is the key.  Funding must be directed towards this basic need – not at cosmetic, feel -good projects that do not address the basic problem - continuing habitat loss.

-        Leonie Blain

 

 

CLARENCE ELECTION CANDIDATES' VIEWS ON TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE

The Clarence Branch of Climate Change Australia has surveyed candidates standing for election on March 28 in the seat of Clarence about their attitudes to climate change.

Group spokesperson Claire Purvis was disappointed that of the eight candidates only the Greens Janet Cavanaugh, Independent Debrah Novak and Christian Democrat Carol Ordish responded.

Candidates were asked for their vision and plans on the future of electricity generation and how they would encourage renewable energy industries.  They were also asked how they would protect residents from climate change impacts such as coastal erosion, flooding and storms.

Both Janet Cavanaugh and Debrah Novak gave considered responses. Carol Ordish responded by saying that people everywhere are to be responsible for where they reside.

"Janet Cavanaugh told us the Greens have a plan to end fossil fuel power generation by 2030, having already moved legislation," Ms Purvis said. "They propose a state-based renewable energy support scheme, calling for an all-party commitment to a renewable energy future for NSW, enshrined in legislation, to provide a stable and attractive investment environment.  The Greens also plan to phase out coal exports, including retraining workers.  To protect residents from climate change impacts, they would require new developments to take into account sea level rise predictions, include buffer zones  to protect foreshores and allow for future coastal retreat, and plan for increased storm intensity in building codes."

"Debrah Novak also strongly supports phasing out coal power in favour of renewable energy.  Ms Novak is concerned about inadequate funding for climate change research and development.  She pointed to relationships between fossil fuel lobbyists and government as a barrier to a clean energy future.  She is committed to working with other elected  MPs with the same vision to advocate clean energy technologies.  In addition to strengthening building codes, she called for a consultative approach to coastal planning issues, including invonvement with traditional owners."

Ms Puvis was disappointed that neither Labor nor the Nationals responded to the survey.

"Labor's Trent Gilbert told a candidates' forum in Grafton that we should reduce reliance on coal.  He pointed to renewable energy policies in California, without spelling out any Labor proposal.  We have not seen any commitment at all from Nationals' Chris Gulaptis on the issue.  He should be actively promoting a switch to supporting renewable energy. It will bring jobs to the North Coast."

Ms Purvis concluded by referring to the fact that climate change effects everyone and that there is a need for a long-term strategic plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and phasing out our reliance on coal.