ENVIRONMENT
The Australian Workers Party stance on Environmental issues:
We believe that protecting our environment is not just a matter of importance, it is a matter of survival. Humans have a responsibility to be good custodians of our environment and do so with a clarity of purpose.
Some key points that we do support:
CLEAN ENERGY:
What was once considered alternative energy is now called clean energy as it is no longer experimental but mainstream. In the future, each property in Australia could be sustainable enough to provide all the energy for that property, at no cost and without any pollutants/residues. That cannot be done with current technologies, but that is no reason to stop striving for “the holy grail” of energy production. For energy to be clean it precludes the burning of fossil fuels or nuclear fission. Thankfully the world is moving away from these polluting energy production systems.
Clean energy underpins the reduction of green house gases and will assist Australia to meet its international commitments to reduce global warming and atmospheric pollutants. Recent development of cheaper and more compact methods of energy storage will mean householders will over time become independent from the traditional power network. Other power storage systems such as pumped hydro are already a reality and should be utilised where possible and economically feasible. Australia should not be left behind.
Our Clean Energy Position:
The Australian Workers Party supports the development, commercialisation and use of clean energy technologies.
1. We support the removal of all subsidies to the fossil fuel industry.
Includes mining, drilling and bodies such as the recently established “Oil, gas and energy resources growth centre”. It is not the role of tax payers to support the growth of the fossil fuel energy sector.
2. No new nuclear / fossil fuel power stations, or expansion of existing nuclear / fossil fuel power stations.
3. We fully support the work currently being undertaken by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. (ARENA)
The stated role of ARENA is to:
Improving the affordability of renewable energy
Increasing the supply of renewable energy
ARENA has $2.5B in funding until 2022. Should ARENA be abolished by the government, then the AWP would support the re-establishment of this organisation and the restoration of its budget.
4. We support the development of decentralised power networks.
The current system of massive, centralised power generating stations is more about the location of the fuel they burn rather than efficiency. The resultant distribution networks of poles and wires accounts for much of the energy produced being lost. The development of micro-networks allows for the use of technologies such as tide and wave generation near the coast and large solar plants near inland communities. It may also promote further developments of technologies such as “hot rock” and geo thermal energy sources where available.
5. We support the reduction and ultimately the elimination of electricity distribution poles and wires. The clearing of land for the poles and wires is both unsightly and environmentally unsustainable. Generating power from renewable resources and storing the power locally for use in a micro-network is a reality. The reduction, and ultimately the elimination of poles and wires will improve the visual environment and would make any citizen living in a fire prone area sleep more soundly.
6. We support the use of the Snowy, Kiewa and Tasmanian hydro electricity systems as network batteries. (Pumped Hydro) During times of abundant power from other sources (wind, photo voltaic, solar) generation, water in the hydro systems is pumped back up-hill into the dams. At times of peak power demand, the dam water is released back through the turbines to generate the needed power. This is making use of a resource, water, many times over.
Renewable Energy Certificates (REC’s): REC’s are part of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000. They were brought into being to encourage an additional 9500 Gwh of renewable energy per year by 2010 as part of the Renewable Energy Target. They will play a part in achieving the recently announced 2020 targets which requires 45000 Gwh of renewable power generation. REC’s are the mechanism that has facilitated the uptake of grid feed solar installations on domestic dwellings. Photovoltaic panels (PV’s) on suburban houses were rare, but have now become the norm. Until now REC’s have only been attached to systems that are tied into the existing electricity network and give no recognition to stand alone power generation systems. With the advent of grid independent micro power networks, recognition of the contribution the networks make toward reducing the burning of fossil fuels needs to be made. The extension of REC’s to these systems seems a logical step.
Gwh (Giga watt hour) A measure of electrical energy.
1 million watt hours = 1Mwh.
1000Mwh = 1Gwh.
Our view is that the energy challenges faced by Australia in 2019 could well be solved if there were a bipartisan consensus and if common sense was put into play. As a minor party we would certainly do what we could to further the debate and ensure low cost energy solutions were found to benefit the community using renewable sources.
Waste:
We support strengthening environmental laws to reduce the production and consumption of single use items. We will seek to legislate and use other incentives available to government to coerce industry to change practices that cause pollution, including excess and unnecessary plastic packaging on consumer items such as fresh fruit and vegetables and other packaged supermarket lines.
Hospital waste is a big problem. According to the World Health Organization disposal of hospital waste in landfill or by incineration can carry significant environmental risks. They encourage: “alternatives … such as autoclaving, microwaving, steam treatment integrated with internal mixing, which minimize the formation and release of chemicals or hazardous emissions.” We support this approach to hospital waste management.
We will promote the reintroduction of sterilization departments into our large public hospitals in regional and urban Australia which will cut the equipment and waste disposal costs from the overall hospital operating budget and have the added benefit of providing local job. Available evidence indicates that reliance on single use items is not cheaper for hospitals and we will work to bust the myth that it is.
We support the development of a national recycling plan to address waste, reduce landfill and promote recycling and associated industry. We support an immediate ban on plastic shopping bags. We also support the introduction and expansion of existing deposit schemes to encourage recycling and reduce landfill.
We would support research and development into technologies to reuse waste products. To recycle refuse into useful product to be used for building and road construction or other uses.
Our Forests
We want to see an end to logging on public land. We believe the Regional Forests Agreements are failing the needs of timber workers and the environment alike. We will work with scientists and the timber industry to move the remaining 12% of total annual timber production away from public land and onto plantations. We will seek an immediate ban on all logging from high conservation value public forests. This will support our climate goals as well as promoting diversity of plant and animal species in our public forests. We will work with the agricultural sector to support the development of alternative fibre solutions such as hemp and bamboo in appropriate climates in order to support this transition.
Our Oceans
We want to see healthy oceans and sustainable fisheries. We believe in evidence based ecosystem management of our oceans. The Great Barrier reef is dying. We think the $443 million dollars allocated to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation needs to be returned to government and reallocated to those organisations with a track record of working responsibly to promote reef health including the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Australian Institute of Marine Science. We will seek a ban on all offshore dumping of dredge oil. We will not support additional oil and gas mine construction in Australia’s marine parks or the Great Australian Bight.
Murray Darling Basin
Our internal waterways are dying and the effects of this on our rural communities and the natural environment is devastating. We will promote a healthy inland river system. We will work to ensure The Basin Authority cooperates with demands for transparency. We will work with the state governments to implement the forty-four key recommendations from the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission. We will lift the freeze on water buys backs to return more water to the river.
We will not support multinational corporate entities like Cubbie Station continuing to destroy our inland rivers and stealing water from ordinary Australians. We will work with our expert scientists to promote flows and ensure all Australians have the benefit of our fresh water rivers, not just the few. This will also support our biodiversity and promote the health of our fish, birdlife and other species dependant on a healthy river system. The Murray Darling is too important to lose.
Great Artisian Basin.
We oppose the Adani Coal Mine. We will work with the scientific community to promote the health of the Great Artesian Basin. We will work to ensure this vital water source for rural Australia is not contaminated or given away to mining companies like Adani with woeful environmental records. We believe that the Great Artesian Basin is a vital fresh water reservoir for all Australians and will not support any company who seeks to steal this water from those farmers and community members who rely upon it and who have a track record of using it sustainably. We will do all we can to end this unfairness and stop the water theft.
We believe that protecting our environment is not just a matter of importance, it is a matter of survival. Humans have a responsibility to be good custodians of our environment and do so with a clarity of purpose.
Some key points that we do support:
- That fact that climate change is real and poses a threat to our planet.
- Government and industry programs that support a transition to zero emissions.
- The targets set by the Paris agreement and Australia's participation to reach the goals set.
- An end to large scale remnant forest clearing.
- Programs that maximise natural carbon storage.
- Research and development into new technologies for carbon draw down.
- An attainable price for carbon.
- Zero emissions target for 2030.
- Programs that deal with new technologies in recycling.
- Research and development into new power storage technologies.
- Strategies to deal with unexpected climatic events.
- Research and development into new water purifying technologies.
- Research and development into land harm minimisation strategies in agriculture.
- Fracking.
- The Adani mine in Queensland.
- The dependency upon the use of fossil fuels.
- Environmental vandalism whether it at the hands or governments or corporates.
CLEAN ENERGY:
What was once considered alternative energy is now called clean energy as it is no longer experimental but mainstream. In the future, each property in Australia could be sustainable enough to provide all the energy for that property, at no cost and without any pollutants/residues. That cannot be done with current technologies, but that is no reason to stop striving for “the holy grail” of energy production. For energy to be clean it precludes the burning of fossil fuels or nuclear fission. Thankfully the world is moving away from these polluting energy production systems.
Clean energy underpins the reduction of green house gases and will assist Australia to meet its international commitments to reduce global warming and atmospheric pollutants. Recent development of cheaper and more compact methods of energy storage will mean householders will over time become independent from the traditional power network. Other power storage systems such as pumped hydro are already a reality and should be utilised where possible and economically feasible. Australia should not be left behind.
Our Clean Energy Position:
The Australian Workers Party supports the development, commercialisation and use of clean energy technologies.
1. We support the removal of all subsidies to the fossil fuel industry.
Includes mining, drilling and bodies such as the recently established “Oil, gas and energy resources growth centre”. It is not the role of tax payers to support the growth of the fossil fuel energy sector.
2. No new nuclear / fossil fuel power stations, or expansion of existing nuclear / fossil fuel power stations.
3. We fully support the work currently being undertaken by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. (ARENA)
The stated role of ARENA is to:
Improving the affordability of renewable energy
Increasing the supply of renewable energy
ARENA has $2.5B in funding until 2022. Should ARENA be abolished by the government, then the AWP would support the re-establishment of this organisation and the restoration of its budget.
4. We support the development of decentralised power networks.
The current system of massive, centralised power generating stations is more about the location of the fuel they burn rather than efficiency. The resultant distribution networks of poles and wires accounts for much of the energy produced being lost. The development of micro-networks allows for the use of technologies such as tide and wave generation near the coast and large solar plants near inland communities. It may also promote further developments of technologies such as “hot rock” and geo thermal energy sources where available.
5. We support the reduction and ultimately the elimination of electricity distribution poles and wires. The clearing of land for the poles and wires is both unsightly and environmentally unsustainable. Generating power from renewable resources and storing the power locally for use in a micro-network is a reality. The reduction, and ultimately the elimination of poles and wires will improve the visual environment and would make any citizen living in a fire prone area sleep more soundly.
6. We support the use of the Snowy, Kiewa and Tasmanian hydro electricity systems as network batteries. (Pumped Hydro) During times of abundant power from other sources (wind, photo voltaic, solar) generation, water in the hydro systems is pumped back up-hill into the dams. At times of peak power demand, the dam water is released back through the turbines to generate the needed power. This is making use of a resource, water, many times over.
Renewable Energy Certificates (REC’s): REC’s are part of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000. They were brought into being to encourage an additional 9500 Gwh of renewable energy per year by 2010 as part of the Renewable Energy Target. They will play a part in achieving the recently announced 2020 targets which requires 45000 Gwh of renewable power generation. REC’s are the mechanism that has facilitated the uptake of grid feed solar installations on domestic dwellings. Photovoltaic panels (PV’s) on suburban houses were rare, but have now become the norm. Until now REC’s have only been attached to systems that are tied into the existing electricity network and give no recognition to stand alone power generation systems. With the advent of grid independent micro power networks, recognition of the contribution the networks make toward reducing the burning of fossil fuels needs to be made. The extension of REC’s to these systems seems a logical step.
Gwh (Giga watt hour) A measure of electrical energy.
1 million watt hours = 1Mwh.
1000Mwh = 1Gwh.
Our view is that the energy challenges faced by Australia in 2019 could well be solved if there were a bipartisan consensus and if common sense was put into play. As a minor party we would certainly do what we could to further the debate and ensure low cost energy solutions were found to benefit the community using renewable sources.
Waste:
We support strengthening environmental laws to reduce the production and consumption of single use items. We will seek to legislate and use other incentives available to government to coerce industry to change practices that cause pollution, including excess and unnecessary plastic packaging on consumer items such as fresh fruit and vegetables and other packaged supermarket lines.
Hospital waste is a big problem. According to the World Health Organization disposal of hospital waste in landfill or by incineration can carry significant environmental risks. They encourage: “alternatives … such as autoclaving, microwaving, steam treatment integrated with internal mixing, which minimize the formation and release of chemicals or hazardous emissions.” We support this approach to hospital waste management.
We will promote the reintroduction of sterilization departments into our large public hospitals in regional and urban Australia which will cut the equipment and waste disposal costs from the overall hospital operating budget and have the added benefit of providing local job. Available evidence indicates that reliance on single use items is not cheaper for hospitals and we will work to bust the myth that it is.
We support the development of a national recycling plan to address waste, reduce landfill and promote recycling and associated industry. We support an immediate ban on plastic shopping bags. We also support the introduction and expansion of existing deposit schemes to encourage recycling and reduce landfill.
We would support research and development into technologies to reuse waste products. To recycle refuse into useful product to be used for building and road construction or other uses.
Our Forests
We want to see an end to logging on public land. We believe the Regional Forests Agreements are failing the needs of timber workers and the environment alike. We will work with scientists and the timber industry to move the remaining 12% of total annual timber production away from public land and onto plantations. We will seek an immediate ban on all logging from high conservation value public forests. This will support our climate goals as well as promoting diversity of plant and animal species in our public forests. We will work with the agricultural sector to support the development of alternative fibre solutions such as hemp and bamboo in appropriate climates in order to support this transition.
Our Oceans
We want to see healthy oceans and sustainable fisheries. We believe in evidence based ecosystem management of our oceans. The Great Barrier reef is dying. We think the $443 million dollars allocated to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation needs to be returned to government and reallocated to those organisations with a track record of working responsibly to promote reef health including the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Australian Institute of Marine Science. We will seek a ban on all offshore dumping of dredge oil. We will not support additional oil and gas mine construction in Australia’s marine parks or the Great Australian Bight.
Murray Darling Basin
Our internal waterways are dying and the effects of this on our rural communities and the natural environment is devastating. We will promote a healthy inland river system. We will work to ensure The Basin Authority cooperates with demands for transparency. We will work with the state governments to implement the forty-four key recommendations from the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission. We will lift the freeze on water buys backs to return more water to the river.
We will not support multinational corporate entities like Cubbie Station continuing to destroy our inland rivers and stealing water from ordinary Australians. We will work with our expert scientists to promote flows and ensure all Australians have the benefit of our fresh water rivers, not just the few. This will also support our biodiversity and promote the health of our fish, birdlife and other species dependant on a healthy river system. The Murray Darling is too important to lose.
Great Artisian Basin.
We oppose the Adani Coal Mine. We will work with the scientific community to promote the health of the Great Artesian Basin. We will work to ensure this vital water source for rural Australia is not contaminated or given away to mining companies like Adani with woeful environmental records. We believe that the Great Artesian Basin is a vital fresh water reservoir for all Australians and will not support any company who seeks to steal this water from those farmers and community members who rely upon it and who have a track record of using it sustainably. We will do all we can to end this unfairness and stop the water theft.