Senator Joyce said today, ”It is clear from Kerry O’Brien’s interview with Mr Rudd on last night’s 7:30 Report that in Labor’s rush to outbid the government’s renewable energy targets, the Labor party has given no thought to the effects their policy will have on the Australian coal industry. On no fewer than 3 occasions, Mr O’Brien had to return to the question of how Labor’s renewable energy targets will affect the Australian coal industry and each time Mr Rudd carefully evaded the question. He stated that he was ‘confident we’ve got the right mix of policy’.

“I believe this is the “mix” Mr Rudd was referring to: We give up coal jobs to find further green votes and that is the sort of cake mix the Labor Party needs to get itself elected on this issue.

Senator Joyce was adamant that this mix compromises working families in such seats as Dawson, Flynn, Maranoa, Hunter, New England, Gippsland, Cunningham, Macquarie, Capricornia and Parkes to name just a few. “The biggest emission loss to these families will be from their family wallets. They are political martyrs for Mr Garrett and Mr Rudd’s cause. The Labor Party has consistently failed to show that it has put any thought at all into what will happen to the coal sector under a Labor policy that looks like a hash-up of Coalition and Green policies hastily thrown together so Labor can be seen to be outbidding the Coalition.

“The Coalition’s commitment to a 15% renewable energy target has been thoroughly researched and costed within the framework of the economy. This is a balance between environment and economics and this reflects our wish not to vandalise either. You can’t look after the environment when you’re stone motherless broke. In fact the environment will be the furthest thing from your mind when you can’t pay your bills. The Coalition policy will ensure the longevity of the Coal industry within the framework of this renewable energy target while maintaining Australia’s commitment to Kyoto and Post-Kyoto carbon emission targets.


“I look forward to Mr Rudd and Mr Garret talking about the emissions that come from cars and how they will make them renewable, only I think we’ll be waiting a long time.” Senator Joyce said.