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Australians protest ‘nonsensical’ gas-led recovery
Advocates for climate action have marched in Canberra, demanding that the government remove its plan for a fossil fuel-dependent economic recovery.
Australians protest ‘nonsensical’ gas-led recovery
Advocates for climate action have marched in Canberra, demanding that the government remove its plan for a fossil fuel-dependent economic recovery.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has previously outlined his vision for a gas-led economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, declaring that the cheap and reliable power will help boost the economy.
However, members of the Peoples Climate Assembly (PCA) have marched on the lawns of Parliament House on the first sitting day of the year to challenge the government’s “nonsensical” decision to favour gas over renewable energy.
“While countries and corporations around the world are abandoning fossil fuels, we have to ask ourselves why our government is ignoring the very clear science and rapidly shifting market forces,” PCA spokesperson John Smith said.
Mr Smith said the bushfire crisis rapidly gave way to storms and floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic which, in addition to far-reaching and tragic social and economic disruption, broke the enormous momentum that climate rallies had achieved.
“On Tuesday, the people will gather again to tell the government there is no more free ride,” said Mr Smith.
“We will not remain silent as the government sets us on a dangerous path.”
Along with the rally, the PCA has started a petition to the House of Representatives, where Independent MP Andrew Wilkie will call the House to reject the gas-led recovery and instead develop a COVID recovery package that stimulates green jobs.
“A ‘gas-led’ recovery will only stoke the fires of climate change, and cost the nation dearly in terms of jobs, industry, environment and global reputation,” Mr Smith said.
While the protestors marched on Parliament, the Prime Minister rejected the idea of introducing a carbon tax as a way of reaching net zero emissions.
“I’m not putting on a carbon tax, and I’m not putting up the GST,” Mr Morrison said to the National Press Gallery on Monday, 1 February.
“They’re just tax increases. That’s all they are.”
Instead, the PM would look to invest in new skills and training for younger Australians, as well as focusing on improved technology to reduce carbon emissions.
“If you don’t get there by technology, if that’s not used, then the only way to get there is by a tax,” he said.
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