Media
release - 30 October 2008 - The Rudd Government
will provide $10 million over four years
to establish research networks investigating
the effects of climate change on areas such
as water resources, human health, emergency
services, infrastructure and biodiversity.
Minister for Climate
Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, said
today the seven new 'adaptation research
networks' will foster critical research
into the effects of climate change.
"The Rudd Government
has a comprehensive plan to respond to the
challenge of climate change," Senator
Wong said.
"Reducing emissions
through the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme
is a critical part of that.
"However, we also
need to be prepared to adapt to changes
in the climate that we can't avoid due to
the level of carbon pollution already in
the atmosphere.
"Taking action
now to reduce the future impact of climate
change on our communities, environment and
industries is a critical pillar of our strategy."
Senator Wong said the
networks will bring together the best brains
in Australia to advance our understanding
of how specific sectors and regions will
be affected by climate change and what action
is needed to reduce the risks.
The networks will be
part of the National Climate Change Adaptation
Research Facility, hosted by Griffith University,
which is leading Australia's climate change
adaptation research effort.
These institutions will
host each of the networks below and will
be awarded the amounts indicated for four
years:
Terrestrial Biodiversity
- James Cook University - $400,000 per year
Water Resources and Freshwater Biodiversity
- Griffith University - $400,000 per year
Marine Biodiversity and Resources - University
of Tasmania - $400,000 per year
Settlements and Infrastructure - University
of NSW - $447,000 per year
Disaster Management and Emergency Services
- RMIT University - $205,000 per year
Social, Economic and Institutional Dimensions
- University of Melbourne - $376,000 per
year
Health - Australian National University
- $240,000 per year
Government launches
Australia's Low Pollution Future Report
Today the Rudd Government is proud to launch
Australia's Low Pollution Future: The Economics
of Climate Change Mitigation.
This comprehensive report
contains Treasury's detailed modelling of
the costs and opportunities of acting decisively
to meet the challenge of climate change.
It provides fresh evidence
that early action to tackle climate change
will sustain growth, create new jobs and
protect our economy into the future.
The report - which measures
the economic impact of cutting carbon emissions
through the Government's Carbon Pollution
Reduction Scheme - has three key conclusions:
The Australian economy
will continue to grow strongly as we reduce
carbon emissions.
The earlier Australia acts, the cheaper
the cost of action. The longer we delay,
the more damage we risk to the Australian
economy.
Many of Australia's key industries will
become more, not less, competitive.
The report also finds that average annual
GNP growth will only be one tenth of one
per cent less than it would be in a world
without action to tackle climate change.
It shows that taking
early action will allow an orderly and gradual
adjustment to a low-carbon economy. However
delaying action, and then playing catch
up, will deliver a sharper shock to the
economy in the years ahead.
The report confirms
that it is in our economic interests to
take early and decisive action on climate
change.
The modelling indicates
that economies that act early face lower
long-term costs - around 15 per cent lower
than if we delay until internationally agreed
action.
Putting in place the
necessary economic reforms through the Carbon
Pollution Reduction Scheme will also allow
Australia to capitalise on emerging opportunities
and gain a competitive advantage.
The report contains
the most complex, comprehensive and rigorous
analysis of its kind ever undertaken in
Australia.
It is a key part of
the Government's commitment to implementing
the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme in
a measured and economically responsible
way which is affordable for families and
pensioners and supports future economic
growth.
A summary of the Report,
along with the full Report, are available
at: http://www.treasury.gov.au/lowpollutionfuture/
Summary fact sheets
of the Report's key finding are also available
at: http://www.treasury.gov.au/lowpollutionfuture/factsheets/
+ More
Kakadu fees in 2010
Media release - 30 October
2008 - Environment Minister Peter Garrett
today said he had accepted the Director
of National Parks recommendation to reinstate
park use fees at Kakadu National Park from
1 April 2010, with a full exemption for
Territorians.
Mr Garrett said the
Howard Government had created a black hole
in Kakadu's budget with its ill-considered
decision on the eve of the 2004 election
to abolish visitor fees.
"Kakadu is one
of the world's spectacular natural environments,
encompassing nearly 20,000 square kilometres
and offering visitors a unique experience
of our rich Australian landscape, wildlife
and Indigenous culture.
"The previous Government's
decision to abolish park fees created a
$4 million black hole that taxpayers then
had to fill by supplementing the Kakadu
budget so that park operations did not falter
and the park's traditional owners were not
disadvantaged.
"It is both irresponsible
and unsustainable in the long term to expect
taxpayers to continue to bear the full cost
of managing Australia's largest national
park and one of our great World Heritage
Areas.
"I have therefore
accepted the recommendation of the Director
that visitors be asked to make a contribution
to the maintenance of the tourism infrastructure
and services they enjoy. Recovering some
of these costs will help maintain Kakadu's
spectacular environment."
Mr Garrett said charging
entry fees for national parks with high
visitation and associated high running costs
is common practice around Australia and
internationally.
The fee will be $25
for each visitor 16 years and over, and
cover a visit of up to 14 days. Visitors
who want to stay longer will be able to
do so at no extra charge. This is expected
to generate $4.5 million in net annual revenue,
based on visitor numbers in 2007. Mr Garrett
said the Government did not believe the
fee would discourage interstate or international
visitors who make up more than 85 per cent
of all visitors.
"However, by exempting
Territorians from the fee we expect they
will continue to be great champions for
Kakadu. This park is in their backyard and
we want them to come again and again - and
to bring friends and visiting relatives.
"This is a view
that has been strongly put to me by Senator
Crossin, Member for Solomon, Damien Hale,
and Member for Lingiari, Warren Snowdon,
who have strongly advocated the interests
of Territorians as the Government has considered
future funding options for Kakadu."
Mr Garrett said the
Government had made the announcement early
to give the tourism industry plenty of time
to plan pricing and marketing for the 2010
tourism season.
Under the park lease,
38.8 per cent of revenue will be passed
on to the Aboriginal Land Trusts for traditional
owners.
+ More
Bumblebee rejected for
live import
Media release - 26 October
2008 - Environment Minister, Peter Garrett
has rejected a request to allow the live
import of large earth bumblebees (Bombus
terrestris) into Australia.
Mr Garrett said a plan
by representatives of the hydroponics industry
to allow the bees to be brought into Australia
for crop pollination in greenhouses could
have posed a serious risk to the Australian
environment, native bee populations and
native bird species.
"As we've seen
with animals like the cane toad, originally
brought to Australia to deal with pests
in sugar cane crops, the introduction of
alien species into Australia can have serious
environmental consequences.
"While I appreciate
the potential benefits of improved pollination
for the hydroponic industry, the national
environmental legislation requires me to
adopt a precautionary approach to any proposal
to introduce a new species into Australia.
"The scientific
evidence and advice I have received suggests
that the environmental and economic risks
of a large earth bumblebee population spreading
throughout mainland Australia are significant.
"No matter how
hard we try to contain them to greenhouses
the risk of their escape into the environment
are too great.
"Bumblebees have
escaped greenhouses and established in a
number of countries, including Japan and
Israel, despite strategies to contain them.
The illegal introduction of the bees into
Tasmania in the 11000s saw their rapid and
widespread establishment – something that
could easily happen again throughout southern
Australia.
"Because these
bees are such effective pollinators they
have the potential to contribute to the
rapid spread of weeds, including exotic
species that have not yet become established.
And because of their resilience to temperatures
and adaptability, these bees would compete
with native species for food.
"Large earth bumblebees
can upset pollination and damage flowers
when taking nectar, potentially robbing
native birds of food - many of these are
already under threat because of habitat
loss and destruction."
Mr Garrett said his
decision followed careful assessment and
consideration of public, industry and expert
comment.
A similar proposal to
import live large earth bumblebees was put
up for public comment in 2006 and was rejected
by all states and territories.
The large earth bumblebee
is listed as a potentially threatening process
in Victoria as a key threatening process
in New South Wales and an invasive alien
species in Japan.
