The Government and Opposition agreement to pollute the renewable energy target instead of greening it up turns a celebration into a disappointment, the Australian Greens said today.
Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, challenged both old parties to support her amendment, to be moved this afternoon, that would prevent polluters making windfall profits under the bill.
"The renewable energy target is vital for the survival and future growth of this critical zero emissions industry, so it is a deep disappointment that the Government and Opposition have made a dirty deal to pollute it," Senator Milne said.
"The Government has passed over an opportunity with this bill to give an unequivocal boost to the clean, clever renewable energy industry.
"Instead of working with the Greens to make sure polluters don't get windfall profits from their exemptions and to ensure that Gunns and others cannot get renewable energy credits for burning Australia's native forests, the Government has chosen to reward the Opposition for their bad behaviour and sandbag polluters even further.
"Today's dirty deal not only gives polluters the same free ride under the renewable energy target as the Government wanted to give them under the fatally flawed Continue Polluting Regardless Scheme, but opens the door to even more exemptions for energy guzzlers.
"Every Australian should remember that this deal to exempt polluters from the renewable energy target puts the full bill for moving to the renewably-powered economy into the pockets of the community, letting polluters benefit from the shift while bearing none of the cost.
"The Greens are determined to bring on the renewable energy target, but we will nevertheless move amendments to challenge the Government and Opposition.
"Will the Government and Opposition vote to give renewable energy credits to Gunns for their native forest furnace at the planned pulp mill?
"Will the Government and Opposition vote to allow polluters to make windfall profits if, as models predict, wholesale energy prices fall thanks to the renewable energy target they are exempt from meeting.
"It's a sad day when what should have been a celebration for renewable energy in Australia turns into another field day for polluters."
