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Glenn Lazarus

1 hr ·

Press Release

Lazarus calls on Abbott to retain RET

Palmer United Senator for Queensland, Glenn Lazarus, this morning called on the Abbott Government to retain the Renewable Energy Target (RET).

Senator Lazarus said any move by the Abbott Government to reduce or abolish the RET was irresponsible and would not be supported by the Palmer United Party.

“The RET has to be retained. Australia needs to move towards cleaner renewable energy sources and the RET supports this.

“Australia must continue to invest in cleaner renewable energy and the clean energy sector needs certainty to continue that investment.

“Retaining the RET will support increased investment resulting in much-needed innovation and efficiencies to drive improvement and growth.

“The majority of Australians want Australia to move away from dirty fuel like coal and to increase our use of renewable energy sources.

“By reducing or removing the RET, the Abbott Government is risking the future of our environment and the health of our planet.

“The cleaner renewable energy sector needs to grow. It offers significant potential for jobs and other opportunities for the economy.

“All this talk about abolishing and reducing the RET is harming investment in this sector and jeopardising many jobs.

“At the moment, businesses are reluctant to inject further investment in cleaner renewable energy because the RET’s future is under a cloud.

“Businesses need finance to fund cleaner renewable energy projects and banks won’t lend money to businesses when the future of RET is up in the air.

“The market needs certainty and the Abbott Government needs to take a responsible and firm approach on this.

“Palmer United is firm. We will block any attempt by the Abbott Government to abolish or reduce the RET.”

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News Feed

Glenn Lazarus

1 hr ·

Press Release

Lazarus calls on Abbott to retain RET

Palmer United Senator for Queensland, Glenn Lazarus, this morning called on the Abbott Government to retain the Renewable Energy Target (RET).

Senator Lazarus said any move by the Abbott Government to reduce or abolish the RET was irresponsible and would not be supported by the Palmer United Party.

“The RET has to be retained. Australia needs to move towards cleaner renewable energy sources and the RET supports this.

“Australia must continue to invest in cleaner renewable energy and the clean energy sector needs certainty to continue that investment.

“Retaining the RET will support increased investment resulting in much-needed innovation and efficiencies to drive improvement and growth.

“The majority of Australians want Australia to move away from dirty fuel like coal and to increase our use of renewable energy sources.

“By reducing or removing the RET, the Abbott Government is risking the future of our environment and the health of our planet.

“The cleaner renewable energy sector needs to grow. It offers significant potential for jobs and other opportunities for the economy.

“All this talk about abolishing and reducing the RET is harming investment in this sector and jeopardising many jobs.

“At the moment, businesses are reluctant to inject further investment in cleaner renewable energy because the RET’s future is under a cloud.

“Businesses need finance to fund cleaner renewable energy projects and banks won’t lend money to businesses when the future of RET is up in the air.

“The market needs certainty and the Abbott Government needs to take a responsible and firm approach on this.

“Palmer United is firm. We will block any attempt by the Abbott Government to abolish or reduce the RET.”

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Daily update: Fossil fuels win battle over RET, but will they win the war? Inbox x Renew Economy editor@reneweconomy.com.au via mail92.atl71.mcdlv.net 12:36 PM (3 minutes ago) to me Fossil fuel wins battle but will they win the war?; Renewables at risk from dinosaur govts & utilities; Hunt changes tune as policy extremists take control; Commercial scale rooftop solar market facing oblivion in Australia; Experts respond to RET review; Chile to become first South American country to adopt carbon tax; and Coal plants lock in 300 billion tons of Co2 emissions. Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. The Parkinson Report Fossil fuels win battle over RET, but will they win the war Giles Parkinson The predictable findings of the RET Review panel will deliver massive windfalls for fossil fuel generators. But as they celebrate a victory of short term interests over long term public benefits and good policy, their Kodak moment looms larger than ever. Renewables at risk from dinosaur govts, utilities: IEA Sophie Vorrath IEA says renewables growth headed for 5-year slump if govts and utilities fail to rise to challenge of increasing deployment. Meanwhile, in Australia… Greg Hunt changes tune as policy extremists take control Giles Parkinson Greg Hunt has spent the last year saying the costs of the RET are modest. Now he says meeting the 41,000GWh target would entail “extraordinary” penalties. Commercial scale rooftop solar market facing oblivion in Australia Giles Parkinson Solar industry says proposed changes to RET could signal end of commercial scale solar market in Australia. Renewable Energy Target review – experts respond James Whitmore & Michael Hopkin Experts – including Alan Pears, Andrew Blakers and Dylan McConnell – respond to report which has recommended deep cuts to RET scheme. Chile is poised to adopt South America’s first carbon tax Andrew Breiner Chile to become the first country in South America to institute a carbon tax, and the second in Latin America after Mexico. Coal plants lock in 300 billion tons of Co2 emissions Bobby Magill Coal-fired power plants are the largest contributors to atmospheric CO2 concentrations.

On a wet Friday evening on 22 August West End locals packed into Avid Reader Bookshop for a charge of West End history: the launch of the West End Making History Group’s third and latest walking guide, Walking with Water Rats … Kurilpa Point to Davies Park and Beyond. They were joined by special guests, Sam Watson, Heritage Architect, Peter Marquis Kyle, and Annie Keys from the walking guides’ funding body, the Department of the Environment.

The evening was a mix of celebration and protest, coming as it did in the same week the Brisbane City Council launched its Kurilpa Riverfront Renewal master plan, a plan that, if fulfilled, will result in massive change to the local landscape.

Billie Cummins kicked things off with a wonderful didgeridoo performance and a moving reminiscence of boyhood fishing expeditions to the nearby river.

Former Mayor and member of the West End Making History group, Tim Quinn, considers that by knowing our local history, we get to know ourselves. “It is very difficult for us to recognise who we are and where we might go in the future unless we understand our history,” he said.

The trail lists three state heritage listed buildings: the Coronation Hotel, the Gas Stripping Tower and the Thomas Dixon Building. While these building are protected, Tim thinks other important buildings have a far less certain future and if we value our heritage, they should be fought for. They include the delightful Foggitt Jones building at the northern end of Montague Road, the art deco facade of the Stewarts and Lloyds building near Parmalat, as well as the original Parmalat façade itself.

The disquiet in the community over the Kuripla master plan comes, Tim thinks, from a lack of consultation extending over the past 10 years. “I don’t think too many political figures responsible for making those decisions have been out to this community in the last 10 years”, he said, adding,

“We would warmly welcome the Lord Mayor on one of the walks”.

On Sunday Tim led about 60 residents on the first walk based on the guide. Joining us were other members of the West End Making History Group, Helen Abrahams, Pam Bourke, Steve Capelin, Fiona Stager and Phil Vanderzeil.

In its first Street Walker‘s Guide to West End published in 2010, the West End Making History Group exhorted its readers to,

“Slow down. Leave the car at home. Take to the streets”.

With the links to our past under imminent threat, now more than ever, is the time to follow their advice.

Copies of the book can be obtained from Avid Reader Bookshop and keep an eye on the website for details of future walks.

For people interested in talking to them about the draft Kurilpa Master Plan, representatives of the Brisbane City Council will be at the West End Markets in Davies Park on Saturday 30 August, from 8am to12pm.

The West End Community Association will be holding a public meeting on Wednesday 3 September, from 6-7 pm at the South’s Leagues Club, West End. A number of the West End Making History group members will be there.

Click to hear an interview with Tim Quinn as broadcast on ABC 612 on Monday 25 August.

RET Review panel calls for large scale, solar schemes to close

The RET Review panel appointed by Prime Minister Tony Abbott has called for the closure of the renewable energy target to new entrants as one of two options it is recommending to the government.

It is also calling for the closure or rapid wind back of the small scale scheme, which supports rooftop solar and solar hot water. It says this scheme should either close now or by 2020. It says it should be restricted to installations of less than 10kW – effectively cutting out the commercial scale solar market.

As for the large scale scheme, the panel says the two options are effective closure to new entrants, or a form of modification to restrict it to a “real” 20 per cent of demand.

It suggests that the LRET could be modified to increase in proportion with growth in electricity demand, by setting targets one year in advance that correspond to just 50 per cent share of new growth. It says this approach would result in renewables making up a 20 per cent share of forecast electricity demand in 2020.

Targets would not be mandated for future years, exposing renewable energy investors to the same market risk (that future levels of electricity demand are unknown) that other investors in the sector currently face.