BEFORE the federal election a year ago, Tony Abbott said “our position is to support the renewable energy targets”.
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When in power, he appointed Dick Warburton to head the renewable energy target review panel, knowing Mr Warburton, an ex-petro chemical chief (Dupont) and recent director of Caltex is a self-confessed global warming sceptic.
Mr Warburton is on the record as saying, “I am a sceptic that man-made carbon dioxide is creating global warming”.
Therefore it comes as no surprise that he has recommended scrapping or severely reducing the renewable target.
This has been a sad and cynical abuse of democracy.
Surveys show Australians, regardless of politics, know that renewable energy, with its free, non-polluting power source, is the only sensible option for us and the world.
Even sceptics know coal and oil will run out at some point and, as we burn them, the price inevitably will rise.
The review panel conceded renewables had lowered the wholesale price of electricity (obviously not passed on to consumers).
The renewable-energy sector has already created thousands of jobs and more than a million Australian households have solar panels.
If Mr Abbott acts on Mr Warburton’s recommendation, rarely will a decision by so few, have done so much harm to the county’s future.
I urge you to tell your federal MP or crossbenchers that you support maintaining or increasing the target (eg. farrer@aph.gov.au or cathy.mcgowan.mp@aph.gov.au).
— LAURISTON MUIRHEAD,
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