Is our Prime Minister doing his best for us or is he sending us backwards? While all other countries are supporting renewables by putting key policies in place as well as funding we are doing the opposite. We are not looking to the future but repeating past mistakes.
According to analysis by Frontier Economics for the UK Government in 2013 – Australia has some of the lowest rates of support for wind power globally. While governments around the world are implementing more policies and building more renewable energy (as well as having technological breakthroughs in the renewable sector), we are removing funding and continuing to support fossil fuels.
Recently in Texas, Tony Abbott has been calling coal “nature’s gift” that will last us a few decades (obviously not thinking about future generations at all). This is our ambassador representing our nation overseas – supposedly sharing our views with the world – definitely not my views.
“For many decades at least coal will continue to fuel human progress as an affordable, dependable energy source for wealthy and developing countries alike,” said Mr Abbott.
It has also been revealed by the Sydney Morning Herald that when Environmental Minister, Greg Hunt, announced the government’s half a billion dollars worth of support for renewables in November last year – it was without the approval (or knowledge) of the Prime Minister. Mr Hunt announced the million solar roofs (from $500 million government funding), $50 million in funding for Solar Schools as well another $50 million for Solar Towns. From the $600 million promised, a measly $2.1million was included in the budget for Solar Towns. No money was allocated to solar roofs or Solar Schools.
With many of the Abbott Government’s pre-election promises already shattered, many are questioning the trust we have in our government. It is hard not to query anything that is said by anyone because not only do they not keep their word, the right hand doesn’t seem to know what the left is doing.
As yet, Mr Hunt is yet to comment.