From fluorescent light bulbs to the National Plan for Water Security, to new water agreements with Israel and China it has been a busy month in the Environment and Water portfolio. And on the local front we have had plenty to do too. So welcome to the March newsletter!
In this edition read about:
Work Continues on National Plan for Water Security Declaration of Intent on Water Co-operation signed with Israel and with China Sydney Harbour Bridge Celebrates 75 Years in Style Clean Up Australia Day Launch of the new Point Zero Van Phasing out Incandescent Light Bulbs Envirofund Applications Updated Dog Blogs Funding Boost for Clean Coal V8 Supercars Go Green Virgin Blue Goes Green Greener Homes Further Investment in Water Trading Website Makeover Update Your Details
Work Continues on the National Plan for Water Security
The Prime Minister and I met with the Premiers of Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria as well as the ACT Chief Minister once more on 23 February. The meeting was a successful one and all but Victoria agreed to refer their powers of water management in the Murray Darling Basin to the Commonwealth. For the communique outlining the results of the meeting click here.I have since had a constructive meeting with the Victorian Water Minister, John Thwaites, and I am confident that Victoria will join this historic enterprise in due course.
Victoria has an enormous amount to gain from the National Water Plan. The package of funding includes $6 billion for investment in irrigation efficiencies with water savings shared between irrigators and the environment. Victoria has some of Australia's largest, and oldest, irrigation systems and they would be expected to receive a substantial portion of that funding. We have also met with Victorian Farmers' representatives to explain the benefits of the Plan for their members.
International Co-operation on Water
This week has seen us sign declarations of intent for co-operation on water technology and management with Israel and with the People's Republic of China.
Earlier this week I met with the Israeli Minister for Infrastructure, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, and a large delegation including the Israeli Water Commissioner, Professor Uri Shani and the Chairman of Israel's national water utility, Mekorot, Mr Eli Ronen.
Our declaration records our intention to increase our co-operation on water resources. Both countries already work closely together and I have personally appreciated the assistance many Israeli water experts have given me over recent years. For more on our meeting click here.
On Thursday, World Water Day, I met with the Chinese Environment Minister, Mr Zhou Shengxian. We had an extensive discussion about water scarcity in our two countries and in particular discussed the problems of over extraction of groundwater resources. Australia and China have been working together on water management and other environmental issues for many years and we agreed that we should build on this great relationship for further collaboration. Read more about our discussions and agreement here
Sydney HarbourBridge Celebrates 75th Birthday with Heritage Listing
Last weekend the SydneyHarbourBridge celebrated its 75th Birthday and Lucy and I joined with thousands of other Sydneysiders and visitors to climb over and walk across the Bridge.
The Harbour Bridge was added to the National Heritage list joining the Sydney Opera House, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Port Arthur, the Stirling Ranges, the Australian War Memorial and many other important sites.
More information on Heritage Listings can be found here and to see our media release and photos from the day click here
Clean Up Australia Day in Wentworth
Clean Up Australia Day is Australia’s largest community-based environmental campaign. I have a great affection for the Clean Up cause and used to be a director until I became responsible for national water policy.
Clean Up Day in Sydney began as it always does with the Sydney Harbour Swim; this year a 1600 metre course around Farm Cove - a great race in which the three Federal MPs (BruceBaird, myself and TanyaPlibersek) finished in reverse order of age. Well done Bruce!
Lucy and I pitched in to Clean Up Australia Day efforts at RoseBay, BondiBeach and CentennialPark. The day was an invaluable awareness building exercise on the importance of protecting our natural environment. See photos here
Clean Up Day is more than one day. The experience of cleaning up our neighbourhoods reminds us of how importance it is to better manage our waste, water and energy resources for the other 364 days of the year.
Up to one million Australians participated in this year’s Clean Up Australia Day at more than 7,500 sites around Australia.
Launch of Point Zero Youth Outreach Van
Point Zero provides innovative programs that empower, support and educate young people; especially in Wentworth. These include the Youth Outreach Van, the Safe Partying Program and the Community, Adolescent and Parent School Educational Program.
We have supported Point Zero's work for some time, and recently Lucy launched the new Point Zero Youth Outreach Van which we were delighted to sponsor.
Well done to Rabbi Mendel Castel, StephanieLenga and her devoted team at Point Zero on this wonderful initiative. See our media release and picture of the launch here.
Australia Slashes Greenhouse Gases from Inefficient Lighting
In a world first move, the Australian Government is taking action to phase out inefficient light bulbs. The step, which I announced at Double Bay Public School, should reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by 4 million tonnes by 2012. See photos here
The International Energy Agency has estimated that if all countries made the global switch to compact fluorescent lights that by 2030, annually it would save energy equivalent to more than 5 years of Australia’s current electricity consumption.
The climate change challenge is a global one and it is great that the European Union is now showing signs of following our lead. For an FAQ on the new bulbs click here and for an opinion piece with more information on the policy click here.
Envirofund Applications Open
I encourage individuals and community groups in Wentworth to apply for grants of up to $50,000 for local environmental projects as part of the latest round of the Federal Government’s Envirofund program.
Envirofund is for local on-ground projects across Australia addressing all aspects of the environment. Eligible projects include native vegetation planting, fencing to protect remnant vegetation and monitoring water quality, species, habitats or other natural resources.
Further information and examples of eligible activities are detailed in the application form which can be downloaded or obtained by phone on 1800 065 823. Applications close on Friday 27 April.
New Dog Blogs
After recovering from the busy Christmas festivities the dogs have returned to the keyboard with some insightful thoughts on inner city living. To read clickhere
Funding Boost for Clean Coal
As part of our ongoing commitment to meet the challenges of global warming Energy Minister Ian McFarlane and I announced last week a grant of $100 million for a $750 million clean coal technology project in Victoria.
While there is no single silver bullet to deal with climate change, Australia’s progress towards cleaner coal is one of the most important ways we can make a global contribution.
By 2010 Australia will be emitting 87 million less tonnes of carbon than we otherwise would – equivalent to the emissions of the entire transport sector.
The Government has now committed $410 million from its $500 million LETDF program, announced in its 2004 Energy White Paper and designed to leverage at least a further $1 billion from industry. This $410 million in funding supports projects worth more than $3 billion. Read more about the grant here.
V8 Supercars Race to a Greener Future
As the mind wanders to greenhouse friendly activities, V8 Supercars are not normally the first thing you think of.
But this year I was delighted to launch V8 Supercars Australia’s ‘V8 Racing Green’ program which will involve the planting of thousands of trees to offset emissions as well as undertaking climate change awareness initiatives with their fans.
V8 Supercars Australia, in partnership with Telstra BigPond, has recognized the effect the sport has on the environment and the organizers aim to become completely carbon neutral by working with the Australian Government’s Greenhouse Friendly programme, an initiative that aims to help the environment while improving businesses’ bottom line. Read more here.
Virgin Blue Goes Green
Brett Godfrey, CEO of airline Virgin Blue, invited me out to Canberra airport to announce their new carbon offset program. Working closely with the Australian Government's Greenhouse Friendly initiative, Virgin Blue is going to give its passengers the option to pay a small amount in addition to their fare to offset the carbon emissions caused by their travel. They have calculated that this will work out to about $1.10 per passenger per flight as the cost of abatement is around $9.00 a tonne and the emissions of CO2 are, on average, about 118 kgs per passenger journey. This is a great initiative and I was delighted to see, just as we have with the V8 Supercars, an Australian Government Greenhouse programme helping business cut CO2 emissions in a practical and effective fashion. For more on the Virgin Blue announcement click here.
Greener Homes for a Cooler Planet
The Australian Government will help households and small businesses become more energy efficient and potentially carbon neutral, through a $52.8 million Small Business and Household Climate Change Action initiative.
Under the initiative the Government will send Australians information about climate change and how to become more energy efficient, as well as helping them calculate their greenhouse gas emissions.
The Government will also offer households the opportunity to become a ‘carbon neutral’ household through its Greenhouse Friendly programme. This will involve purchase of abatement measures such as tree plantings. Read more here
Further Investment in Water Trading
The Australian Government has invested $5.6 million to accelerate the development of water trading in Australia. Water trading is a key plank of the Commonwealth’s water policy blueprint, the National Water Initiative.
A focal point of this investment is the establishment of a national water accounting model, which will enhance public and investor confidence in the amount of water being delivered and traded; extracted for consumptive use; and managed for environmental and other public benefit outcomes. Read more here.
Website Makeover
Our website has been unpgraded and now includes a new video section. If you have any suggestions about how we can further improve the site let us know.
Yours sincerely,
Malcolm Turnbull MP Member for Wentworth