Comments on: Malcolm Turnbull’s environment cred

By: Colin Campbell

Colin Campbell — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 21:26:00 +0000

Public schools increasingly depend on the Commonwealth grants to upgrade school facilities. Our school got over $100,000 for computers and shading for play areas. That money is just not available anywhere else. We have also had money for environmental and water saving programmes, again money not available anywhere else. With the state governments increasingly strapped for investment money, this is fertile ground for the Commonwealth. I wonder if Rudd will emphasise these kinds of programmes as much?

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 01:49:10 +0000

I heard Peter Garrett on radio yesterday. He was more expansive than the ABC news item. Basically he is saying that Labor favours value adding and if the environmental assessment scrubs up then he’s happy. But he is trying to hold Turnbull to account and is not happy with the assessment he has undertaken.

He was asked why he hadn’t been saying anything, and he says he has. Whether it gets reported is another matter. I understand he’s not too good at the doorstop, but better with a prepared script. This seems to limit his effectiveness.

I understand there is a legal problem with the kind of assessment Turnbull can undertake. They were saying on the radio that in looking at the pollution of the sea, Turnbull could only assess it’s effect on Commonwealth waters.

Andrew Bartlett made two points in his comments on the Traveston Dam inquiry that are relevant here. Firstly it is due to the Democrats that Turnbull has any power at all to knock back proposals such as these under the EPBC Act.

Secondly, “the EPBC Act requires that all the evidence be assessed before a decision is made by the federal Environment Minister on whether to approve an action”.

All Cousins is doing is concentrating his mind. He said as much on TV last night. And Phil could well be right.

By: Phil

Phil — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 21:56:10 +0000

I think we’re all about to find out how much Turnbull wants to be PM. There is no way some pipsqueak premier in the pocket of an industry that has no real future on the island is going to get his/their way.

Will he throw Gunns and Lennon under a bus? You bet.

By: paul walter

paul walter — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 18:08:27 +0000

Actually it’s interesting because of the Gunns thing keeps festering away. Is there a Franklin moment at the end of it all?
Turncow and HoWARd, facing an election rout desperately try a last second wedgie based on appearing to stand up to Lennon; to “save the little gum trees” ( little rainforests are precious! ).
This forces Rudd and Garett OUT of their boltholes BEFORE the election, and in the true spirit of “me too” these are forced (unwillingly) also to endorse a “Franklin” solution in which science and economics actually become determinants, rather than greed, ideology, redneck prejudice, ignorance, arrogance and corruption.
Yeah, I know. Put the cone DOWN Eugene!

By: suz

suz — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 07:54:08 +0000

Here's the original announcement, which is rather vague - solar hot water or rainwater tanks? Here's Downer's response, which is strangely similar if not identical to another MP's response. Both talk about being able to choose solar hot water or rainwater tanks or both. (So private schools with hot water will get most money out of this.) Here's the govt website for the program. From this, it looks like the Surfers Paradise voucher-giving was a publicity stunt to announce the availability of this program, as I doubt the school had had time to do this: The payment will be based on a firm quote and delivery timelines obtained by each school to undertake their identified works. It has the hallmarks of being made up on the run.

By: tigtog

tigtog — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 05:03:59 +0000

That’s the strange thing, Russ - Cibio’s seat is safesafe Liberal with a margin of approx 19%.

Pour encourager les autres? Curiouser and curiouser.

By: Jon

Jon — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 01:30:28 +0000

The whole concept of Malcolm Turnbull, net worth several hundred million dollars, calling someone else a “rich bully” is so ludicrous it beggars belief. What is he thinking? How disconnected from the electorate can he be? His previous efforts on Climate Change on LateLine were bad enough with his condescending attitude and speech.

On solar water heaters for schools, I think it’s been well written here and elsewhere that most public primary schools have little need for this, but a much greater need to do something about air conditioning (and the electricity/costs to run this) in poorly outfitted demountables.

By: Russ

Russ — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 00:56:58 +0000

Obviously your lurker missed the bit in the guidelines that says that being a marginal electorate overrides all other considerations, including common sense.

By: gandhi

gandhi — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:45:38 +0000

Steve Ciobo’s Facebook page lists Iraq War propagandist Arthur Chrenkoff as one of his friends.

‘Nuff said.

By: rf

rf — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 11:40:46 +0000

Yup, looks like a naked grab for publicity with a pretend cheque. The information from your lurker can be readily confirmed from the website:

Each school will receive a single grant payment. The payment will be based on a firm quote and delivery timelines obtained by each school to undertake their identified works.

and

The Australian Government will provide up to $50,000 for every school to install solar hot water systems and a rainwater tank to improve energy and water efficiency.

but if it presents a convenient photo-op for the minister and the sitting liberal member then disregard these bureaucratic niceties!
As for solar hot water systems - wtf? Well, any lingering doubts I had that this government might actually have had some serious green policies have been laid to rest.