In a media release out today Dr Mike Kelly AM, MP for Eden Monaro, speaks of his passion of limiting the impacts of climate change and the need for governments, across the spectrum, to act decisively on renewable energy.
"Eden-Monaro is the canary in the coal mine when it comes to climate change. Our billion dollar ski industry, our farmers and our tourism industry all depend on consistent and reliable weather to survive and prosper.
"Furthermore, renewable energy is becoming an increasingly important to our local economy with our new wind farms, solar farms and the forthcoming expansion of the Snowy Hydro.
"However, Snowy Hydro has said their expansion project will only stack up with ambitious renewable energy investment, and it will benefit from an ambitious national renewable energy target, like Labor’s commitment to 50 percent renewable energy by 2030.
"Unfortunately, this week’s Federal Budget continued the government's attack on Labor’s 50 renewable energy target. A target that is not only beneficial to the Snowy Hydro expansion but all experts say is needed to lower power prices, reduce pollution and meet our international commitments on emissions reductions.
"This year’s budget also contains a dramatic reduction in renewable financing that is available for the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to invest in renewable energy.
"As a nation, we must do better than this" Mike insists.
"We need bi-partisan support for the orderly transition to renewables based on thorough and informed research of the Finkel report. This will ensure the stability of our national energy market that is required by community, business and to keep our local economy in Eden-Monaro growing."
"Most importantly, we need to understand that if we fail to come together as a nation to address climate change and transition to renewables, we rightly stand to be condemned by future generations."
