We are at a crossroads. We have the tools we need to cut the pollution that drives global warming and build a clean energy economy. But will we make the choice to do so?

The impacts of global warming are already being felt, and tipping points that scientists fear are getting ever closer, making our task more urgent than ever. But cashed-up polluters and their lobby groups continue to fight every measure to strengthen clean energy in Australia.

With the Australian Energy Market Commission's Power of Choice review out today, it's up to Federal Government in COAG now to drive the reform that will bring down power bills.

One really exciting recommendation from the AEMC is that time-varying tariffs be considered as part of a national approach to feed-in tariffs for distributed generation. 

Senator LUDLAM (Western Australia) (15:49): I move:
That the Senate-
(a) notes:
(i) demonstrations will be held in Adelaide, Perth and Darwin to mark the Toro Energy Limited annual general meeting on Wednesday, 28 November 2012,
(ii) the Toro Energy Ltd uranium project near Wiluna, Western Australia is located within a lake bed that floods periodically, and
(iii) the project poses potential risk to cause extinction of flora species and the extinction of or adverse impacts to stygofauna; and
(b) calls on the Government to:

I give notice that on the next day of sitting I shall move that the Senate

Notes:

1. Demonstrations will be held in Adelaide, Perth and Darwin to mark the Toro Energy Ltd Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 28 November 2012;

2. Toro Energy Ltd uranium project near Wiluna, Western Australia is located within a lake bed that floods periodically;

3. The project poses potential risk to cause extinction of flora species and the extinction or adverse impacts to Stygofauna.

Calls on the government to:

Christine Milne and Sarah Hanson-Young joined Mark Parnell in South Australia to comment on the World Energy Outlook, the Royal Commission into child abuse and the Murray Darling

Transcript

Subjects: World Energy Outlook report, Royal Commission into child abuse, Murray Darling

Making renewable energy projects funded by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation additional to the Renewable Energy Target would be great for jobs, would bring on gigawatts of clean power and would cut the pollution that drives global warming, all at zero extra cost to electricity consumers, according to a report released today by WWF and the Australian Solar Council.

The $10 billion CEFC is a key plank of the carbon price agreement negotiated by the Greens, who consistently argued that it should be additional to the Renewable Energy Target.

The new Federal Government energy white paper is a missed opportunity and locks in obsolete and polluting energy sources, the Greens warned today.

Member for the Mining And Pastoral Region Robin Chapple MLC said the paper missed a great opportunity to promote Western Australia as a solar energy powerhouse.

Christine Milne responded to the release of the Energy White Paper, and also commented on the hunger strike in the detetion centre on Nauru.

Transcript

Subjects: Energy White Paper, Nauru

JOURNALIST: The Energy White Paper - what's your reaction to it?

"Martin Ferguson has been dragged out of his comfort zone here, but his dirty fingerprints are all over the White Paper," Australian Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

"Primarily, the White Paper confirms that renewable energy can power all of Australia within decades, a reality being modelled by AEMO thanks to the Greens' carbon price negotiations - but has been shunted aside here with a dash for gas and a vision of fossil-fuels still polluting our atmosphere out to 2050 and beyond.

The Australian Greens are urging the Federal Government to commit to supporting local communities, regional jobs and a sustainable future, by supporting Alinta Energy's plans to build a solar-thermal plant in Port Augusta.­

Power company Alinta Energy is reportedly meeting with the Federal Government this week regarding the establishment of a solar-thermal power station in Port Augusta.