GetUp! Action For Australia

This is a good start and the Solar Flagship cuts should definitely not have happened, whereas the green car policy, cash for clunkers etc were no good (very poor marginal cost of abatement).

However, this is just a $100 million victory, it is nothing compared to the $10 billion in perverse fossil fuel subsidies that were initially highlighted. It should not be an end, it should only be the start to remove those perverse subsidies. Yes a carbon price is absolutely essential, but as the Australia Institute says it is like driving with a foot on the accelerator and one on the brake.

Removing the diesel fuel excise from the mining industry, which props up diesel power generation over renewables, is much more important for the embryonic Australian solar industry than the Solar Flagships praogram. That program is riddled with issues. It is very poorly targetted, the real work should be done on smaller achievable projects. That can only come if the perverse support for diesel generation is removed.

Isn’t it a little odd that all Labour had to do in order to get the Greens on side for their major policy of a flood levy is threaten to withdraw funding for a relatively insignificant renewable scheme?

What a relief!
I was starting to lose confidence in our Parliament, noting that the Federal Opposition does not believe in climate change, despite a higher proportion of expert scientists in ICCC and other fora agreeing that it is occurring than has historically been achieved over any major scientific issue.
Graeme Kelleher. AO.

sweet, i got tingles from that. bob looked pretty happy

It’s great news that the solar flagships program has ben restored. However I also hope that the carbon tax will be used to create a sovereign wealth fund to deal with future costs, including climate disasters (like the floods), adaptation to climate change and transition costs to a mitigating economy. This will mean there is no need in future for one-off levies like the flood levy.

I am confused!
I voted for a Labor Government.
However, it appears that I merely helped to elect another conservative coalition; one that is more concerned with the ‘big end of town’ than the millions of people who elected them!
Is this democracy?

I had the privilege of donating the final $57 to the newspaper add campaign & it was nice to see the counter getting updated in real time.

But it is even nicer to see that everyone’s donations paid off

Fantastic news GetUp! Congratulations on success on such a critical issue, and please, for all of our sakes, keep up the fight into the future.
Well done.

That is indeed wonderful and three cheers for all of us. BUT guest (just below) is on the real money – those fossil fuel subsidies have to go. Let their imminent removal be the focus of our next campaign

Well done Get Up1 Next wwe have to persuade government to stop giving the big mining companies support to take away the mineral riches of Australia and leave our grandchildren with a big hole and no resources!

This is wonderful. At a time when ‘democracy’ has become a chimera of itself, the Greens force a recalcitrant, reactionary, backward looking
‘Labor’ government to listen to the people!
Wonderful
Chris Ayres

Martin Ferguson seems to have undue influence within the ALP. Perhaps the National Party would be a more appropriate vehicle for Ferguson’s power plays.

A voice of gratitude!

WHY BOTHER?

Not from “down under” – but from “up above”.
Not from “the other side” – but from the same globe.

Sitting in my house in Sweden
with minus 20 degrees outside my window
My heart is melting a bit
and so will the snow

Just a little click in cyberspace
Just a little drop in the ocean
Just a little ray in the total sunshine

THAT’S WHY!

(Roine Andersson, Sweden)

I feel great that by making a donation to Getup I can influence in a very meaningful way political decisions made in Australia today.This is so much more powerful than my vote, I shall have much pleasure in supporting Getup in the future. The Solar Flagship program cut should never have happened. Greens Senator Milne is right the subsidy $600mill of the oil industry condensate should be stopped. This is where the savings should be made and that is just the begining!

Great work, very great news. Time to revoke the fossil fuel subsidy next

Anyone know what the background song is?

In the country that is the driest (despite the floods) continent on the planet with the most year-round sunlight, it is a crime that this nation is not the global leader in solar technology. We could have been, if not for the regressive policies of the Howard administration which, in time, will be judged as the most reactionary government of modern Australia. My anger towards little johnnie knows no bounds.

Hi, let’s not forget that the Cash for Clunkers $$ was originally pinched from the Solar Flagships fund, so the program is still well shy of the original $1.5 billion announced. this $ is a good investment as it will allow the cost of large solar power to come down significantly, meaning that it won’t be long before they need no government money (unlike fossil fuels – and established industry still benefiting from subsidies and tax loopholes).

Good work get-up, but it would be good to get the $220 million cash for clunkers restored to solar flagships too! Love your work!

I agree. I also note that it isn’t relevant if we are responsible for global warming or not. How they say we should be treating the planet to correct it is how we should be treating the planet anyway. The critics need to justify going about their selfish destructive ‘dog eat dog’ way. Our biggest challenge is to recognize the ‘free enterprise’ system as we know it, is doomed . . . its either that or us.

China is in the first stages of it’s collapse.
Our economy has got Dutch Disease. All we know is how to Dig it with Diesel. and sell the one-off inheritance.
If we cannot afford the solar infrastructure now we never will.
Let us not waste this opportunity building McMansions.
“The time to start preparing for war is at the height of peace”. Tsun Tsu or “The time to prepare for poverty is at the height of wealth”. Me

Despite Johnie’s constant refrain that we have to commercialise the work of our brilliant scientists better (be more like the US) he did nothing to facilitate that. It was just more empty rhetoric to screen cuts to ‘pure’ uni based science research and R&D funding (ironic huh). So China is producing most of the worlds PV panels, mainly with Australian technology and we didn’t even bother to protect the IP. At least somebody is using the technology On your watch johnie.

It’s modern Democracy. If you think it’s bad check out the US version. Government agencies (equivalent to our Departments) all run by industry execs on the revolving door. Mind you Labour ‘modernised’ at least two decades ago (read: bought into the market economy mythology and the invisible hand [of satan] ).

Shai Agasi CEO of Better Place said ‘cash for clunkers’ is one of the dumbest ideas he’s heard this century. (I may have embellished his comment a little!)

How do I find out about the different programs that the government have organised? Also, how do I find out about the diesel fuel excise? I want to learn more details about these issues>

from down in coffs harbour, good on you tony Windsor. now, how do we get rid of Luke Hartsuyker….?

I welcomed GetUp’s formation (by disillusioned members of the ALP especially) and have supported almost all of GetUp’s campaigns. So I supportively wish GetUp (and The Greens) to note that Joolia is playing them for a blank. She’s deliberately building in “Green nuzzlebags”: artificial unmeant policy-threatening proposals which she knows The Greens and the ALP left wing – not to mention GetUp – will agitate about, seemingly win and publicly celebrate! It’s only cynical practised political bastards such as myself (and maybe Mungo MacCallum) who will point out how deliberatly these jettisonable propositions have been built in. Joolia et al know that GetUp,The Greens and the ALP’s left wing are thereby locked in to celebrate. The antidote: sets of policy propositions voted on by, e.g. GetUp members. After all, a quarter of a century after the first Australian endemically democratic Party Constitution was endorsed, GetUp continues to prove the political efficacy of electronically based administration. Established political Parties will “CatchUp”: soon.

Congratulations Get Up – great that the Greens’ voice and policies are having an influence on the Federal Government . I hope the Greens are able to play a similarly useful influence in the NSW Parliament. A conservative landslide with the conservative parties having unfettered control would be a disaster .
Margaret Henry

I am a member of the Greens, but they can be victims of the inertia of the so called political process, so that the changes I want can die waiting.
The Getup process gives all of us of various political persuasions ( or apolitical), the power to have a direct action and a loud voice that politicians are learning to not ignore.
Well done again GetUp..

Well done GetUp!!!

Well done, Get Up. But isn’t it sad that the pollies themselves require prompting on such a common sense issue?

Senator Green’s office informed me that there were massive public subsidies for coal. I asked for evidence. Senator Green’s Office referred me to a paper written by Chris Reidy when he was doing his PH D at the University of Technology. I read the paper and could see no subsidies for coal so asked more questions. Senator Green’s Office said that they were too busy to reply and suggested I call Chris Reidy. Chris Reidy said that the Greens were quoting an old paper and that there were little if any subsidies on coal. He said that the Greens often misquoted his work.
I then wrote to Martin Ferguson to ask about subsidies on coal. His department replied that there were none.
Do people think that the end justifies the means?

Tremendous news!! Common sense at last! Solar flagship program is a must or Aussies!!

Why aren’t Magnetic Free Energy Generators subsidised ¿ – Australian innovated, 500% efficient, pure genius and magnets last for like – 1500 years , the sun’s good and everything – but it disappears for half the day – what a lazy bastard.

There was plenty of Solar research done under Little Johnie and lots of it died with the GFC, like Solar Systems who where to build the Mildura Power Station. Rudd only subsidised PV panels for home use and that will never work and Joollia is much happier doing nothing except imposing new taxes

There was plenty of Solar research done under Little Johnie and lots of it died with the GFC, like Solar Systems who where to build the Mildura Power Station. Rudd only subsidised PV panels for home use and that will never work and Joollia is much happier doing nothing except imposing new taxes

a special thankyou to all the parliamentarians involved!Anne Mancini

I agree whole heartedly with your comments regarding our former Prime Minister John Howard. Let us not forget the ethics and policies of the Liberal and National Parties are profit in business (at any cost). Our task as intelligent beings is to ensure that all political parties focus on formulating ethically responsible sustainable policies across all departments and in all levels of government. Yes, citizens can caste a vote but active correspondence with politicians beginning with your Local Member of Parliament is the first step.
Maryanne Bell
Teacher.

I agree whole heartedly with your comments regarding our former Prime Minister John Howard. Let us not forget the ethics and policies of the Liberal and National Parties are profit in business (at any cost). Our task as intelligent beings is to ensure that all political parties focus on formulating ethically responsible sustainable policies across all departments and in all levels of government. Yes, citizens can caste a vote but active correspondence with politicians beginning with your Local Member of Parliament is the first step.
Maryanne Bell
Teacher.

Yes, good news for a change. Saw GetUp’s Simon Sheik interviewed on Channel 2 on Sunday morning – excellent speaker on all issues raised.

Good on you Andrew for making a stand to ensure that future directions in common sense, sustainability and long term survival are not waylayed and treated as something we can do tomorrow. Reapportioning the pie to compensate for the lack of foresight in dealing with natural disasters still bewilders me as those in power think short term. Where’s the emergency relief coffer that should always be there should such an eventuality arise, rather than pay as you go? It would be truly naive to think that these disaters aren’t likely to occur again when reviewing our own brief records and especially so in light of sceintific predictions that global warming will exacerbate future climactic events. Better to be prepared for that which is yet to come.

Go Getup… Surely you rock. Power to the people seems attainable, even in this field populated with smoke and mirrors.

Flagship..great…..wonder what its like to have a house to live in. hmm…..

I disagree with the comments about little johny. He refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol remember!! He is a climate change sceptic and he only supported environmental projects if his liberal friends could make money out of it. He sat on the issue of biodiesel fuels and refused to set standards which would assist the industry. The alternative fuels industry was dying under little Johny. On a much wider environmental scale he failed miserably. The current federal government is getting on with it and making good changes.

Thank you Greens!

This debate goes on. Some home truths are that teeny weeny johny allowed business ethics to slide into moral decay and that is a part of the problem, they have no social or environmental conscience. Whilst the grand debate dominates the reality (truth) is hidden in the complexities. The reality is that at the other end of the issue is the failure of State and Commonwealth Governments to introduce recycling programs (container deposit schemes) as in line with S.A. The bottom line was that the small business community objected to a 10c deposit and Governments caved in. You and I know that it is hardly worth bending over to pick up a 10c piece which is almost redundant. What hope do we have with the big picture?

The cynicism that led The Government to cancel The Solar Flagship program is the real worry!
Lets see if I understand this subject correctly.
The Government cancels funding to support the roll out of domestic solar power in order to strong arm The Greens and Independents into supporting The Queensland Floods Levy!
After all, The Levy is just a tax on middle and high income earners so as to implement a Short Term Economic Solution to the damage caused by the long term dilemma of human induced environment change.
Getup! responds by organizing petitions – The Greens & Independents – under pressure from Us, demand reinstatement of the programs in return for their support of The Levy!
The Government concedes – We all sing Victory – The Labor Government comes out looking The Winner while The Coalition look like a bunch of in-fighting losers!
Is that about right?

The fact is, the Labor Government was willing to sacrifice our attempts to mitigate The Very Real Environmental Crisis for Short Term Political Gains!
Now that’s hard nosed political cynicism!
And I thought The Coalition were the only Environmental Cynics?

I suggest educating yourselfes about the fact of Australia as a continent and it’s fragility.Enviromental Scientists told us 6 years ago, if we want to stop going to war with our own land,rivers,forests and oceans we should not have more than16,5 Million people living in Australia.We can only achieve this by
Planet management and not by continuing overpopulation by overbreeding in Asia the Middle East and Africa and than taking all these so called refugees in to create a disaster for our future generation.People without vision speak like you do

Kurt – while I agree with you about the necessity for a reduced population, how is that to be achieved within the necessary timeframes? We don’t live in a vacuum, and will be faced with increasing numbers of ‘rso called efugees’ not only from wartorn countries, but also quite possibly from the northern hemisphere esp. if the Gulf Stream fails as a result of climate change. Already we have a considerable number of visitors/immigrants from Ireland, Britain and elsewhere due to the GFC. At any one time we apparently have over 1m tourists eating and crapping their way around the country.
As a professional who currently owns and operates a business attempting to preserve indigenous bio-diversity around Melbourne’s fringes, and as a (reluctant) former participant in the building trade who has seen the urban cancer exponentially increase Melbourne’s area in the last 40 years, I think we are screwed, bigtime. We can bicker around the edges folks, but get prepared for a return to th edark ages, and soon

Dont forget the govt chief scientist was Howard cousin so it runs in the family, screw the country, screw the environment, profit before people.
Then again Trees don’t scream when they burn either.

anyone who knows the chief Gov. scientist is the cousin of JH gets my vote. I have been following this discussion with interest. It’s a disaster. I’m 60 years of age and have never voted in my life. I have a 14 year old dog that has never been registered or chained. how did we get into this mess?

Not a hope. The carbon tax will not go to Australia. Much will go overseas. The rest to line the pockets of the rich n powerful n politicians themselves.
Say no to carbon tax, say no to ETS. It will not reduce emmissions, it will just raise our cost of living that little bit more and drive many into poverty.
Stop new coal generators, stop new coal mines, any new developments, industry etc must be clean. Pollution filtered etc. Is simple but no one will profit from it, thats the problem they want to profit from it and a tax wil do that just nicely. Saying $30/tonne, add 20% directly to costs, will raise actually real expenses by 30 to 40%. Thats how it works. We cannot have this. Its ridiculous.

lol at cash for clunkers. Traded in our charade, got a new car that uses twice the fuel… a joke. Wheres our electric cars, wheres our recharge stations?? Wheres all the solar panels and wind generators….whats with selling the electricity companies, what with the contract giving away a new yet to be built coal mine selling coal at a quarter the spot price fixed??? Doesnt sound anti pollution to me. Emmissions pah, this tax on carbon is nothing but to make more money for them. It will not go where its needed. it will be lost like the fishing licenses, speed fines etc. We have EPA, enforce it. No carbon tax, no ETS. This is not democracy at work, we didnt vote for this. The UN is overstepping the line.

Its all about profits, their profits, they wont do or support anything unless they are making money out of it. They are pushing carbon tax and ETS as they have now got a way of making more money. Banning their polluting expansions would reduce emmissions but they wont make money out of it. Say no to carbon tax, no ets.

The carbon tax will not go to Australia. Much will go overseas. The rest to line the pockets of the rich n powerful n politicians themselves.
Say no to carbon tax, say no to ETS. It will not reduce emmissions, it will just raise our cost of living that little bit more and drive many into poverty.
Stop new coal generators, stop new coal mines, any new developments, industry etc must be clean. Pollution filtered etc. Is simple but no one will profit from it, thats the problem they want to profit from it and a tax wil do that just nicely. Saying $30/tonne, add 20% directly to costs, will raise actually real expenses by 30 to 40%. Thats how it works. We cannot have this. Its ridiculous.

Come on guys. The government deliberately axed solar as part of the flood package just to woo the greens to support the bill by promising not to axe it. It was a very obvious political move and we should be all over them for playing politics with solar!

To some extent I agree with Markash, that is, get ready for the dark ages. Equal number of Australians eating and crapping their way around the globe. No logic in that given its a global problem. Same with refugees. The amount of boat people in the last ten years wouldn’t fill Subico oval in Perth, and I saw no ethnic groups hovering around the bilabong’s as I traversed the continent. Do nothing! That’s my opinion. As i read it, most of the respondents are motivated by self interest and no consideration for smaller countries that are equally affected and have not contributed. A carbon tax is like mopping around the edges of the fester with a cotton wool bud. You need to lance the fester and discharge the greed and all problems solved. it would happen like magic

Your ‘ABOUT’ page says you “….give everyday Australians opportunities to get involved and hold politicians accountable on important issues.
” Why is it then that are attacking the freedom of speech of ordinary Australians in exercising their rights to say NO to Gillard’s Carbon Tax ?
Your hypocrisy is undeniable & your credibily shattered.

totally agree, this new tax is just another way of putting up GST, we spent our piggbank and gave “yes” gave it away .
carbon tax would have to be the biggest conn job I have seen in my 65 years, come on people wake up please, you have been processed.
do some reading on volcanoes and CO2 find out what the atmosphere is made up of , find out what makes plants grow, for Gods sake wake uip.

Personally I AM COMPLETELY AGAINST THE CARBON TAX

IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE ANY TRAVELLING I SUGGESTS YOU GO TO CHINA AND INDIA
Where you will really see pollution!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At least here in Australia with the small amount of manufacturing we do we have some controls in place.

IF you price us out of the picture with a ridiculous tax (ANOTHER-ONE)
Then more manufacturing and pollution will be done in countries like China and INDIA who will only continue to pollute more
We do not need to put a price on carbon it is just greenies Scare tactics WHICH IF YOU ARE A PART OF I DO NOT WANT TO BE

I AM ALSO AGAINST GAY MARRIAGE WHICH IS MORE RUBBISH

JUST BE GAY! And shut up you have legal rights YOU CANT HAVE THE PRIVELEDGES OF GAYAND HETROSEXUALLITY AT THE SAME TIME I AM SOO OVER THE LACK OF COMMON SENSE

One question which political party does all of this money go to????
Please be more transparent in your dealings

Who is auditing all of this money?????

Are you a registered charity?

How did you come to the conclusion that china is in the first stages of collapse