permaculture

[Russ Grayson + Fiona Campbell <pacedge@magna.com.au>]

> Forwarding from Australia
>
> ...Fiona
>
> John Kaye wrote:
>
> > Dear fellow environmentalist,
> >
> > I urge you to take action to stop the Democrats GST bargaining with the
> > Howard Government.  Even if they make no further concessions, the
> > Democrats' package would cause huge damage to the environment.
> >
> > Here are some factors:
> >
> > a)      The Democrats are offering a $1 billion annual subsidy to diesel
> > fuel consumption.
> >
> > b)      This is on top of the $1.5 billion annual subsidy already in 
> > place.
> > Total $2.5 billion per annum!  This is money directed away from health,
> > education and other social services.
> >
> > c)      The additional $1 billion per annum to promote consumption of
> > diesel compares with $36 million per annum for the Government's Greenhouse
> > initiatives.
> >
> > d)      Burning diesel produces carcinogens.  This will add to the present
> > Australian death rate from such toxins of 1000 people each year.
> >
> > e)      Up to $700 million of the Democrats subsidy will go to the mining
> > corporations including BHP, WMC, North and Boral.
> >
> > f)      woodchippers will get a $1 per tonne subsidy for trucking 
> > destroyed
> > forest to the woodchip mills.
> >
> > g)      North Pty Ltd will be far short of the biggest winner: but it will
> > gain $3 million per annum for carting Tasmanian wild forests, including
> > rainforests, to destruction.  North will get a smaller premium for 
> > trucking
> > uranium from its Ranger and Jabiluka mines.
> >
> > h)      The health costs of the Democrats package may be $100 million per
> > annum.
> >
> > i)      No subsidy will go to solar or wind power.
> >
> > j)      Because the Democrats offer will give power utilities using diesel
> > generation a $52 million gift, there will be a crippling competitive
> > disadvantage for solar, wind and energy efficiency.
> >
> > k)      The package threatens to kill Australia's potential as a world
> > leader in alternative power production, especially solar power.
> >
> > l)      If the GST is introduced, it will block ecological tax reform for 
> > a
> > decade.  And environment groups will have to fight every budget to stop
> > further expansion of the diesel subsidy.
> >
> > m)      The Democrats are reneging on their election commitment to keep
> > food GST-free, now promoting the GST on prepared foods from cooked
> > breakfasts to sandwiches, rolls and pies - increasingly part of poorer
> > Australians' consumption patterns.
> >
> > n)      The package will hit NGO's and community groups - for example,
> > wilderness shops and membership fess will be GST'd.  Groups will face
> > greatly increased bookkeeping and auditing obligations and costs.
> >
> > But the core damage of the Democrats plan is the $1 billion rebate for the
> > burning of diesel fuel, in particular to the miners and woodchippers.  
> > This
> > is unconscionable in an age where the Greens, like many European
> > governments, are advocating taxes on pollution especially burning of 
> > fossil
> > fuels such as diesel, and incentives for clean alternatives.  The
> > Australian Greens' modest carbon tax proposal for example would boost jobs
> > by promoting solar power and enabling payroll taxes to be abolished.
> >
> > In the Senate I will take the Democrats anti-environmental package 
> > head-on.
> > But the best chance of averting its damaging effects lies with you and
> > community action.
> >
> > Urgent action is essential.  If the Democrats join Labor, the Greens and
> > Senator Harradine, the GST package will be defeated in the Senate.
> >
> > Please debate the issue in your group.  Lobby your local MP, especially
> > Democrats.  Call talkback radio.  Write to your newspaper.  Join an
> > environment group or the Greens.  Go into action knowing there are
> > excellent, environmentally-sound tax alternatives for Australia.
> >
> > Yours Sincerely
> >
> > Bob Brown
> >
> >  CC:    Leader of the Opposition, Kim Beazley
> > Opposition Environment Spokesperson, Senator Nick Bolkus
> >
> > --------------------------------
> > John Kaye
> > ph & fax: (02) 9389 4986
> > mobile:   0407 1954 55
> > email:    john@nsw.greens.org.au
> > --------------------------------
> >
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