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Wondering where the main political parties stand on the environment? Want to decide where to cast your vote in the federal election on Saturday 9 October? Check the list of the environmental policies of the 7 main political parties contesting the election.
The Issues
Acting on a resolution from the WPSQ AGM held on 11-12 September, an issues paper was sent to the major political parties to find out about their environmental position. See Political parties asked for their green policies.
Disappointingly, not one party replied - however, WPSQ has searched the websites of the parties and summarised their environmental policies.
Policy summaries
This summary is not a full policy list. It highlights the issues central to WPSQ members' concerns. All the information is taken from political parties' websites. Inclusion does not imply an endorsement by WPSQ of a party or its policies.
Australian Labor Party
Vegetation management |
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Climate change |
- Ratify the Kyoto protocol
- Introduce national carbon trading scheme
- $500 million for sustainable energy projects
- Include the greenhouse effect in the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
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Protection of the Great Barrier Reef |
- $60 million over four years to protect the conservation values of Tropical North Queensland
- Ban resource exploration adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
- Protect pristine reefs
- Fund protection from crown of thorns starfish
- Fund a Reef Water Quality Initiative
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Rivers and water resource planning |
- $1 billion to increase water flows in the Murray-Darling and establish a Murray-Darling Authority
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Coastal development |
- $30.8 million for a Beaches and Coasts Policy to protect fragile coastal environments
- Protect dugongs
- Protect significant ecosystems
- Stop inappropriate coastal development
- Establish a network of whale and dolphin sanctuaries
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Funding for environmental protection |
- $14.4 million to fund buyback of land in the Daintree Tropical Rainforest
- Protect and conserve Cape York
- Protect rare, vulnerable and endangered species
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For more information, go to the ALP website.
Liberal-National Coalition
No specific environmental policy found on website.
| Vegetation management |
- $40 million over 4 years to eradicate invasive weeds
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| Protection of Great Barrier Reef |
- Review the management and accountability of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
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| Rivers and water resource planning |
- $1.4 billion for National Action Plan for Water Quality and Salinity (NAPWQS) including $20 million to identify and manage underground salt deposits in the Murray-Darling Basin
- $2 billion for the Australian Water fund, to include alternatives to improve sewage management into the ocean
- $200 million over 5 years to reward a culture of wise water use
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| Funding for environmental protection |
- $100 million over 4 years for the Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities Programme including $40 million for a Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility into the Great Barrier Reef and Tropical Rainforest
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For more information, go to the Liberal or Nationals websites.
Australian Democrats
| Vegetation management |
- End broadscale clearing of remnant and regrowth vegation
- End clearfell logging in native forests
- Protect privately owned native forest
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| Climate change |
- Ratify the Kyoto protocol
- Introduce a carbon levy
- Introduce emissions trading
- Encourage public transport, cycling and walking
- Encourage renewable energy use and ecologically efficient building design
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| Protection of the Great Barrier Reef |
- Better protection of marine parks, especially the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
- Support green 'no-take' zones in the Great Barrier Reef
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| Protection of old growth forests |
- Protect all rainforest, old growth forest, wilderness and significant conservation areas
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| Rivers and water resource planning |
- Encourage less waste in irrigation
- Encourage effluent recycling and grey water re-use
- Improve water quality
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| Coastal development |
- Discourage urban sprawl
- Establish coastal reserves
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| Enforcement of legislation |
- Legally restrict the distribution of exotic species
- Introduce national laws to control pest species
- Establish a National Oceans Authority
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For more information, go to the Australian Democrats website.
The Greens
| Vegetation management |
- End clearing of native vegetation and forests
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| Climate change |
- Ratify the Kyoto protocol
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Shift to renewable energy sources
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| Protection of the Great Barrier Reef |
- Marine Park Authority management must be ecosystem-based
- Minimum 30% 'no-take' area
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| Protection of old growth forests |
- End clearing of old growth forests
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| Rivers and water resource planning |
- Decrease water consumption
- Guarantee ecologically adequate flows to all river systems
- Minimise agricultural impacts on water resources
- No ownership of water resources
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| Coastal development |
- Ban coastal sand mining
- Set up protected fish breeding areas and estuarine reserves
- National standards to protect coastal resource
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| Funding for environmental protection |
- Fund habitat recovery plans for threatened and endangered species
- Fund research and control of exotic species
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| Enforcement of legislation |
- Enforce habitat recovery plans
- Create a national oceans authority
- Enact Marine Mammals Protection law to cover general threats and individual species
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For more information, go to the Greens website.
Socialist Alliance
| Vegetation management |
- End clearfelling in native forests
- Strict controls on land clearing
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| Climate change |
- Ratify the Kyoto protocol
- Establish a renewable energy infrastructure
- Introduce an industry-funded renewable energy target
- Limit car emissions and fund public transport
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| Protection of old growth forests |
- End logging of old growth forests
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| Rivers and water resource planning |
- Phase out agribusiness in the Murray-Darling Basin
- Stop new development in salinity affected regions
- Remove exotic species from river systems
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| Funding for environmental protection |
- Full protection of endangered species and habitats
- Ban mining or exploration in national parks and conservation areas
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For more information, go to the Socialist Alliance website.
Family First
| Funding for environmental protection |
- Prioritise funding for alternative energy sources
- Reduce polluting waste treatment and promote recycling
- Place a high value on maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem balance
- Value Australia's natural resources
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For more information, go to the Family First website.
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