Environmental Impacts
Votes: 15
by Greg Piper 3:02pm, 20 January 2008
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We now live in a world where global warming and the need to address our impacts on the environment are inarguable – indeed it is accepted as a fact by the State and Federal Governments. Our conventional method of energy production using fossil fuel will be the mainstay for a long time but there is a compelling need to reduce the impacts, particularly of coal fired power stations by new clean technologies.
This is wanted by almost everyone including power industry workers and it seems to me that this is always going to be easier to achieve by committed owners, the public, rather than by trying to regulate private owners who have as their first responsibility shareholder profit.
Clearly energy costs are going to increase over time but I’m confident that the public are going to be happier paying for environmental benefits for their children and grandchildren rather than shareholder profit.
We can’t afford to lose control of the environmental outcomes!
Relates to
document: Greens release relating privatisation to global warming
(14.2 KB)
sal07
Jan 22, 2008 04:52pm
10
0 
I think this is probably all about washing their hands of the industry so nobody can blame the government when we fail to meet greenhouse targets.
monty123
Jan 24, 2008 06:07pm
12
0
I wonder what deals have been done at the expense of the environment to assure purchasers that they will not face carbon taxes. This sale is to line the pockets of Labor's mates in the city - Bob Carr, Wran, Richardson all with their snouts in the trough. Iemma and Costa will deliver the next bag of dollars and then go and join them.
blakey
Jan 26, 2008 08:58am
7
0
This will create a large private organisation with a vested interest in arguing against emissions restrictions. Not a good idea. If we have to sell it should be after carbon prices have settled and trading is in place
ArtzyAudz
Feb 02, 2008 04:31pm
9
0
The strangest thing in my eyes, at this time, is the upgrade of Eraring Power Station (in Lake Macquarie,NSW) to be the LARGEST COAL FIRED POWER STATION IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE!Thanks,Sartor,Iemma&Others....
Definately NOT the Government PROVING commitment to lowering Greenhouse gas, or ANY concern to the environment. Why upgrade for millions & then off load ????
warrigal
Feb 06, 2008 09:51pm
4
1
There is no incentive for private owners to invest in alternate, renewable, green energy. Why would they even bother?
They will be dollar-driven to produce more energy through dinosaur technology to boost profit and provide dividends to their shareholders with little thought of the future and generations to follow.
Our politicans continue to emulate ostriches and disregard the impact of global warming and environmental destruction on their children and grandchildren, so why should we expect anything different from the privateers?
monty123
Feb 23, 2008 03:34pm
1
0
I read in today's Australian that the Iemma Government is lobbying the Feds to compensate power companies for the costs of complying with the Garnaut report recommendations. Effectively they are lobbying to preserve their own windfall which involves trying to get every cent they can for their polluting and out dated industry before anyone does anything about global warming. Unfortunately for them we no longer have a dinosoar as a PM, they can no longer blame everything on the federal government and they are about to have to make a career ending backflip on this issue because the people will not stand for it.