On the 30th November 2006, 3 members of CCBR (Alex, Alison and Sue) met with the 3 known candidates for the NSW State seat of Balmain i.e. Peter Shmigel (Liberal), Verity Firth (Labor) and Rochelle Porteous (Greens). We asked them their position on these areas of interest: coal, nuclear, renewables and demand management. We then gave them our position paper. We appreciated their time to meet together to air their positions on these issues.


Topic: Coal

Peter: If all our coal (production) were to stop tomorrow we must consider the economic cost. The greenhouse gas emissions reduced would be replaced by China in just three days. Families matter and the cost (of electricity) would be dearer, making it difficult for those who can't afford it. The net environmental impacts of coal should be considered too, but we must be cautious and balance the costs of 1. the economy, 2. the environment and 3. social cohesiveness.

Verity: While "we need to reduce our reliance on coal, we can't suddenly ban coal", although there should not be any new coal mines, and a financial incentive to shift from coal. We can't afford to wait the 15-20 yrs to discover the efficacy or otherwise of "clean coal'. Issues of livelihoods, wages and income need to be grasped and the building up of a manufacturing sector related to renewables. Renewable energy industries can be labour intensive.

Rochelle: There's no getting away from the fact that 44% of our CO₂ comes from coal-fired power stations. To say that this issue will be dealt with geosequestration is wrong and will leave a toxic legacy. There should be a moratorium on all new mines and no more coal-fired power stations. When the cost of CO2 is factored in, a level playing field is created for alternative energy sources. If the govt. gets tax from the polluters, alternative users would be taxed less. What is needed is an effective carbon emissions trading scheme or a carbon tax. "Guts" are needed to deal with the climate change. Transition away from coal is a vital part of what we need to do to deal seriously with Climate Change.


Topic:Nuclear

Each speaker was personally opposed to nuclear power.

Verity: The Labor Party does not support nuclear power.

However, Rochelle pointed out that in May 2006, Ian Cohen (Greens) put forward legislation to protect NSW from development of nuclear power stations. The legislation was rejected by the two major parties, underlining the fact that there are no assurances that such an option won't go ahead.

Peter: I have a strong moral dilemma to the fact that we mine and export uranium and don't use it ourselves. Nuclear is not an option.


Topic:Renewables

Peter: I am running a carbon-free campaign. The technology has to be the "right mix". The debate needs to be about technical and scientific fact, not schemes. I've saved tonnes of greenhouse gases through 'alternative waste technology'. After recycling, materials left in the bin can be extracted for renewable energy by applying heat (to the garbage), extracting steam and converting that steam into energy. It's cheaper than solar, wind and hydro. So rather than talk about targets and try to develop policy regimes etc., why not start from what we know? We prop up natural resource extraction to an extraordinary level, start to strip back some of those subsidies, you'll start to see renewables will become much more competitive.

Verity: All technologies should be used to create energy but should not be divorced from targets and economic incentives - so it's worth people's while to find and pursue new ways. Since NSW started the accredited green power system (1997) over 157000 commercial and residential users have chosen 'green power'

Rochelle: We only need to look at what is happening around the world to see that the Mandatory Renewable Energy Targets (MRET) are essential to phasing out our reliance on fossil fuels. The total renewable target in the European Union is 22% by 2010, Italy, for example, 25% by 2010. Renewable energy projects are only made viable if MRET creates incentives for markets. There is great technology for renewables available in NSW. It is a myth that renewables are not viable because they cannot provide baseload. In NSW hydro, a renewable, is our baseload. 100% of our future energy production can be from renewables if our growth in energy consumption can be held in check.


Topic:Demand Management

Peter: Demand management is crucial to the whole Climate Change equation - domestically and globally. Fostering change is crucial, and making changes individually, taking responsibility individually. It is well and truly part of a Liberal party framework that an individual has to be held accountable for his or her environmental impacts. The Liberal Party empowers community-based groups to take control over the climate change agenda. One of the good models empowering people is through environmental trusts. Enforced (change) through legislation is highly discriminatory (and abhorrent to me) and has unintended consequences in society for those least able to bear them.

Verity: With increasing economic growth and population control of demand is the key to solving the Climate Change problem. There is a need for a carrot-and-stick approach to energy efficiency domestically (e.g. for measures like ACF's Greenhome project), education and the harnessing of political will now. Carbon trading will only work with Govt. regulation - the free market will not solve Climate Change.

Rochelle: Energy efficiency is one of the keystones of the Greens plan to tackle Climate Change. Education is fundamental. Energy efficiency goes beyond individual responsibility, it is also about how to make corporations and big business more energy efficient and it is in this area particularly, that legislation is required. Legislation and real political leadership are essential if we are going to significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050. Controlling our use of energy is a necessary prerequisite for a renewable energy future.