Victorian environment in voters’ hands this Saturday
Friday, 26 November 2010
Media release
Victoria's four leading environment groups have published a final assessment of the main parties' environment policies one day ahead of the state election, saying the next four years will be crucial for deciding the fate of Victoria's climate, rivers, forests and wildlife.
After a flurry of minor environmental policy announcements during the last week of the campaign, the final scores are Labor 52%, the Coalition 22% and the Greens 93%.
The Coalition picked up 7 points after finally releasing its climate, energy and water policies this week while Labor earned an extra 1.5 points for its parks and environment policy.
Get the full breakdown on how we ranked the parties.
The Victorian National Parks Association's executive director Matt Ruchel said he has been disappointed by the results.
"The major parties have been a 'small target' on conservation policy," Mr Ruchel said today.
"Neither Labor or the Coalition have committed to creating significant new conservation reserves, in fact both parties ruled out even considering further protection of the marine environment or a significant increase in funding for management of our natural areas.
"Both major parties' nature conservation policies have been piecemeal and scattered, lacking new ideas or vision, and far from what is needed to reverse the decline in our natural habitats, in the most ecologically cleared and stressed state in Australia."
Environment Victoria CEO Kelly O'Shanassy said the next state government will hold office for a critical four year window for the environment.
"Scientists tell us that this is the decade that matters for climate change, for saving the Murray-Darling Basin, and for protecting our remaining old growth forests," she said.
"Anyone who aspires to lead the state for this period needs a clear and comprehensive plan for environmental leadership.
"Labor has just scraped through with a pass on the scorecard, with some good environmental policies but not enough to turn things around for our environment.
"However, the Coalition has failed to propose a credible environment and climate change platform. Any party that does not deliver a credible plan to address issues like climate change does not deserve to be in office.
The Wilderness Society's Victorian campaigns manager Gavan McFadzean said forest protection clearly set the three main parties apart.
"Forest protection is one issue where voters face a clear choice between three starkly different policies from the three main parties," Mr McFadzean said.
"The Coalition has promised to intensify native forest logging, Labor will abolish VicForests and support negotiations to find agreement among stakeholders on reducing logging, and the Greens offer immediate protection for old growth forests.
"The choice voters make this Saturday will make a real difference to the future of Victoria's magnificent native forests."
Friends of the Earth campaigns coordinator Cam Walker said that on the major issue of climate change, most of the Coalition's policy has been cherry-picked out of the ALP's Climate White Paper.
"The few original policy ideas they've put forward either won't have much impact on carbon pollution, or will actually make it harder to develop renewable energy plants," he said.
"The Greens have really moved the debate on climate change forward by offering practical, large-scale solutions. Labor has taken some first steps by beginning to act on Hazelwood and supporting large-scale solar, however we need solutions that recognise the scale of the problem that we find ourselves in. The Coalition on the other hand has hardly contributed to the debate."
For comment
- Matt Ruchel, VNPA - 0418 357 813.
Find out how we ranked the parties. 2010 election - 'small target' conservation politics.