A lot has happened since the last newsletter. On the climate change front we have had APEC and the Sydney Declaration as well as the announcement today of a new Clean Energy Target - 30,000 gigawatt hours by 2020 and of course we have launched our Climate Clever campaign which encourages households and businesses to use energy more efficiently. Remember, the cleanest power station is the one we never have to build! On water, the latest contingency report offers sobering news of worsening water availability in the southern Murray Darling Basin. And there has been plenty happening in Wentworth too with lots of local news. So in this edition read about: New Clean Energy Target Latest news on water availability in the Murray - and new groundwater research People and Pets at Lyne Park Historic Climate Change declaration at APEC Darlinghurst Office Opening Cana Communities Raffle City to Surf Green Vouchers for Wentworth More funding for Wentworth Schools and school visits to Parliament Community Crime Prevention Funding for Wentworth Soaking Up The Sun In Bronte Florabank Updated Website New Clean Energy Target Today, the Prime Minister and I announced at BP Solar's Homebush factory that the Australian Government will introduce a new national Clean Energy Target, requiring that 30,000 gigawatt hours each year come from low emissions sources by 2020. This is likely to mean that, assessed conservatively, at least 15% of our electricity will come from clean energy sources by 2020. Many industry observers believe that coupled with the Emissions Trading Scheme it is likely to result in a clean energy component of more than 20% by 2020. Low emissions sources are those technologies that emit less than 200 kilograms of greenhouse gases per megawatt of electricity generated.This includes renewable energy, such as solar and wind, as well as fossil fuel fired electricity generation where carbon capture and storage is used. There are no fossil fuel energy sources currently commercially deployed which would meet the 200 kilograms per megawatt hour test. The CET will replace the existing and proposed state and territory schemes with a single national scheme and is sufficient to absorb those schemes. This will reduce costs for business, and ultimately for households.It will reduce the red tape from the current multitude of schemes, and ensure low emission technologies are developed in the lowest cost locations, without being restricted by state and territory boundaries. The CET will drive additional investment in renewable and other low emissions electricity generation, as the Australian emissions trading scheme is introduced. The CET will be based on the Government’s existing Mandatory Renewable Energy Target, which has already stimulated $3.5 billion of investment in renewable energy. The Australian Government will consult with State and Territory Governments and industry in designing and implementing the CET with legislation to be introduced next year. Read more here Water Still Scarce in the Murray and more work on groundwater research This week the Prime Minister released the latest Contingency Report on the Southern Murray Darling Basin. The news remains grim. Inflows into the system are low and storage levels are well below the levels of last year. Most irrigators have negligible or nil allocations in the Southern basin. We have announced further drought support which will assist farmers in these areas, but there is a real risk that many permanent plantings may die due to lack of water. More detail on the report can be found here. This worsening drought on the Murray underlines the importance of the National Plan for Water Security and the need for better management of our water resources, made possible now with the passage of the Water Act 2007. On a more positive note, we have announced more than $50 million for a series of projects investigating and measuring our groundwater resources. Groundwater has all too often been the forgotten water resource. Under the ground it is something of a mystery and its connection, in most cases, with surface water has been overlooked with the result that in some systems we have unsustainable extraction of groundwater impacting on surface water availability as well. Read more about these projects here and about another groundwater $10 million groundwater research programme focussing on the arid zone here. People and Pets Day at Lyne Park One of the great events in the Wentworth calendar is People and Pets Day, held last weekend at Lyne Park, Rose Bay. Hundreds of locals and their pets (mostly dogs, but a few cats, birds and even ferrets) mingled among stalls promoting animal welfare, selling stylish outfits for dogs, petfood and so on. We had our own stall celebrating, naturally, the birthday of Rusty Turnbull who is 16 years of age - 112 in dog years. The whole Turnbull family were together with Alex visiting from Hong Kong and so Lucy and I, Alex and Daisy together with Rusty, JoJo and Mellie had a great day with so many friends of both two and four footed varieties. The Mayor of Woollahra, Keri Huxley and I judged the best dressed pet competition and awarded a prize for the best tricks performed by dogs. On a more serious note, we promoted the work of POOPS which stands for Pets Of Older Persons. Many older people are reluctant to seek medical treatment and hospitalisation because of concerns about their pets. POOPS which works with the RSPCA provides pet minding, feeding and walking services so that pets are looked after while their owner is in hospital. Read more here. Their work is really commendable. Sydney Declaration The Sydney Declaration at APEC was a genuine climate change breakthrough. For the first time developing countries including China, Malaysia, Korea and Indonesia agreed on the need to set a global goal for long-term reductions in the carbon emissions that are doing so much to cause climate change.
At the meeting, the 21 APEC leaders signed off on the Sydney Declaration on Climate Change, committing them to work towards a long-term aspirational goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions after the expiry of the initial committment period of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012.
The first stage of the Kyoto Protocol has not been successful in reducing global emissions, indeed it will result in a reduction in growth in emissions of only 1% - a very far cry from what is needed. The significance of the Sydney Declaration is that it recognised and addressed the flaw in Kyoto which was the assumption that we could achieve an environmentally effective reduction in global emissions without all of the major emitters, including those in the developing world like India and China, working to reduce their emissions. Once a global goal is agreed upon, then it follows as night follows day that every major emitting country will have to work towards substantial reductions in emissions - which is what we urgently need to do. As part of the agreement, the 21 APEC leaders committed as a group to taking practical action on climate change supported by a forward programme of practical actions and initiatives through the APEC action agenda. This new action agenda complements other actions undertaken by APEC economies and includes initiatives designed to improve economic growth and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency, forests and climate and low emissions technologies. Deforestation is a particularly import part of the climate change equation, as the destruction of forests ranks as the number two cause of carbon emissions globally. The Australian Government has been leading the way on this front, committing $200 million to a Global Initiative on Forests and Climate and more recently hosting a High-Level Meeting on Forests and Climate here in Sydney. At APEC, world leaders also agreed to work to achieve a regional aspirational goal of increasing forest cover in the APEC region by at least 20 million hectares of all types of forests by 2020. Achieving this goal would result in the storage of some 1.4 billion tonnes of carbon, equivalent to around 11 per cent of annual global emissions (in 2004). The Sydney Declaration strikes a careful balance between APEC economies’ need for economic growth, energy security, social development and action on climate change. It recognises that all countries have the responsibility to take action on climate change while respecting their different national circumstances. And it shows this government's commitment to practical action to protect the environment and fight dangerous climate change. For more information on Australia’s range of international climate change actions click here Darlinghurst Office Opening Last year, the suburbs of Elizabeth Bay, Potts Point, Kings Cross, Woolloomooloo and parts of Darlinghurst were moved from the electorate of Sydney to Wentworth. So we have set up a new campaign office at 304-308 Victoria St, next door to Bar Coluzzi. The office will be open six days a week. Please feel free to drop in if you need assistance on any issues. With a new base in Darlinghurst, I look forward to spending even more time in the area over the weeks and months to come. Cana Communities Raffle Cana Communities, which runs shelters and homes in the Darlinghurst area, is holding a raffle. 1st prize is $6,000 worth of travel vouchers or a Harvey Norman shopping voucher. Tickets are only $2 each. For further information please contact Danielle Seisun by email info@cana.org.au or phone 0410-688-444. City to Surf Lucy and I took part in a wonderful Sydney tradition - the City to Surf. The race stretches across the entire Wentworth electorate and it was terrific to catch up with so many local residents along the way. We were delighted to help sponsor “Team Stretcher” who raised funds for the Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick. They completed the 14 km run while carrying a child on a stretcher. I congratulate them on their great fundraising efforts. See photos here Green Vouchers for Wentworth I have visited many schools in Wentworth to promote the Green Voucher for Schools programme. This is part of a $336 million Federal Government investment, which allows all Australian primary and secondary schools the opportunity to receive funding of up to $50,000 to help install rainwater tanks and solar hot water systems. In addition to the positive environmental impacts, this programme encourages educational awareness about energy and water consumption. Further information about Green Vouchers is available here or by phoning 1800 020 625. More funding for Wentworth Schools I am thrilled to announce more funding for Wentworth schools under the Investing in Our Schools Program (IOSP). The IOSP grants are made to assist schools in areas identified by their school community as critical such as computer equipment, air conditioning, library and sports fields construction. Rose Bay Public received $19,147 for ICT and computer equipment and Vaucluse Public School received $88,497 for library resources. It has been a very busy week too with school visits. On Friday I visited St Margaret Mary's School at Randwick for the official "opening" of new smart, interactive whiteboards which have been purchased with the assistance of the Investing in our Schools Programme. While there I presented the school with its Green Voucher - worth $50,000 for the purchase of rainwater tanks and/or solar hot water systems. I also visited Bondi Public School, Rose Bay Public and Double Bay Public Schools and presented them with Green Vouchers. While at Double Bay, Cameron Black (age 9) read a beautiful story about Scruffy the Dog who wanted to be a kindy kid at Double Bay. Cameron's story is on my website, appropriately, in the Dog Blogs section here. On Saturday I attended a Mass at St Mary Magdalene at Rose Bay celebrating 40 years of education in the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy at Macauley Catholic Primary School, it was a beautiful Mass celebrated by Monsignor Tony Doherty. Today I was at St Anthony's School in Clovelly where we celebrated the renovation of a new play area - also assisted by a grant from the Investing in our Schools Programme. Both ceremonies were very musical and owed much to the inspiration and direction of Vincent Brincat a past Principal at Macauley and now assistant Principal at St Anthony's. One of the great delights in a Parliamentary week is a visit from a local school. This month we have had visits from Sydney Grammar School, Reddam House, Kincoppal and Bondi Beach Public. The questioning was always insightful and to the point and compared to Question Time in the House, very courteous and quietly spoken too! Click here for pictures. Community Crime Prevention Funding for Wentworth To directly assist crime prevention in Wentworth two local community groups have each received $5,000 under the Community Crime Prevention Program. The Rose Bay Liquor Accord project will enable the purchase of 100,000 custom printed coasters with “No more… It’s the law” focusing attention on intoxication and violence. The Junction Neighbourhood Centre Inc will support the Court Assistance Scheme which provides legal representation, support and information to women applying for Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders at Waverley local court. Soaking Up The Sun In Bronte Bronte's sunshine will offer more than tans and the occasional sunburn to the local lifesavers. Bronte Surf Life Saving Club has, with help from a donation of solar energy panels and a hot water system from Australia’s solar energy industry, embarked on a clean energy future. I unveiled the installations and welcomed the opportunity to showcase the solar technology and to help Bronte celebrate 100 years of surf life saving in Australia. The benefits will be felt not only by our Bronte community and visitors but also as a contribution to fighting the effects of climate change. For more information click here. Florabank At the recent launch of the FloraBank website for Greening Australia at NielsenPark, I was impressed to meet some local volunteers who are working on the ground (literally!) to protect our native bushland at NielsenPark. They meet every Tuesday morning for a few hours to help with bush regeneration. I agreed to support their efforts to get more volunteers so please join me with them at NielsenPark on Tuesday October 2 at 8am if you want to lend a hand.
Yours Sincerely
Malcolm Turnbull