Healthy Solar Electricity or Coal Business-as-usual?

We wish you strength, Premier Bligh, to invest in a sustainable energy future

With a blaze of publicity Anna Bligh announced the Solar Bonus Scheme, which was widely applauded.  The scheme proposed that a Feed-in tariff of 44c be paid for gross generation , while the consumption rate would be 15c.  The gross generation being during those periods where the household consumes less electricity than is being produced. The excess goes into the power grid.  This would make it more attractive for householders to fit and supply solar electricity into the power grid.  A good investment in  renewable energy by both householders  and the  Queensland  Government.

Since the announcement of the Solar Bonus Scheme,  a change has been made to the proposed import-export Feed-in Tariff so that it will only be paid on surplus electricity (generation minus consumption). This  virtually eliminates the financial incentive for households to go solar.  The Clean Energy Bill will probably be debated in Queensland Parliament this week.

The Greens support a sustainable renewable energy future  and encouraging householders to contribute to their own electricity production is a significant step forward.  A step that would provide jobs growth through all our communities in the renewable energy sector

On the other hand, holding back progress with ongoing support to the jobs-contracting coal industry, would be very short sighted.  Australia's 24 coal fired power stations pump out 170 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.  The greenhouse pollution produced by these power stations is the equivalent to the annual emissions  from about 40 million cars and represents one third of Australia's greenhouse gas production

This is a time to remind all Queensland Government MPs' that they represent all of Queensland as well as future generations.  Before this becomes a 'done deal' for lobbyists and more of the same, send an email to your representative.  Their contact details can be found at this Qld Parliament Members contact pdf location

 to learn more

Local Council Election Result

Local councils across Queensland went to the polls on Saturday 15 March, 2008. The Queensland Greens stood candidates in 22 of the 26 Brisbane wards as well as a Lord Mayoral candidate, and mayoral candidates and two councillor candidates each in Ipswch and Townsville. Unfortunately, no Greens were elected despite the ardent efforts of the candidates and their campaign volunteers. If proportional representation had been in place, Brisbane would now have at least one Greens councillor.
Some results (all links are to district pages in the ECQ virtual tally room)

• Jo Bragg - Lord Mayor -  8.11% (40,542 votes, 9 candidates)

• Anne Boccabella - Central - 16.31%

• Angela Dean - Holland Park - 13.65%

• Sean McConnell - Tennyson - 14.20%

• Drew Hutton - The Gabba - 26.08

• Robert Hogg - The Gap - 16.21%

• Stuart Skabo - Toowong - 21.24%

• Daniel Crute - Walter Taylor - 14.58%

In Townsville, Jenny Stirling came third out of five with 7.50% of the Townsville Mayoral vote, while votes for the undivided Townsville council including Greens candidates Lindy Collins and Gail Hamilton, are still being counted.

In Ipswich, Peter Luxton came second out of three in the Ipswich Mayoral election with 11.21% of the vote. Ric Nattrass achieved over 25% of the vote in Division 3 against one other, while Paul Christison did well coming second out of three with 13.73% of the vote in Division 4.

On these figures, Queensland electors are asking for Greens representation. Our current single-member system in electorates, wards and divisions works against minor parties and minority representation. Let's continue the campaign for proportional representation in local councils and be ready to win in the next council elections on 24 March 2012.

Many thanks to candidates and our members and supporters who assisted during the campaign, and thank you to all voted 1 Greens!