Tell Victorian Labor — Reject Turnbull's dirty energy plan!
It's going down to the wire.
Victorian Labor are gearing up to decide whether to veto or wave through Turnbull's dirty energy plan when Cabinet meets next week. That means we have just days to convince them to reject it.
Media has reported that Victorian Energy Minister, Lily D'Ambrosio, still has "major" concerns with the National Energy Guarantee ("NEG"), and is worried that "coal ideologues" and "climate sceptics" in the Turnbull government are still calling the shots.1
She's right to be worried. But being worried isn't enough — the Victorian government needs to make it clear that they'll vote down Turnbull's NEG unless it delivers for the climate and clean energy.
Here's the good news. Politicians take calls from concerned voters extremely seriously — especially when a state election is on the horizon.
Victorian Labor are gearing up to decide whether to veto or wave through Turnbull's dirty energy plan when Cabinet meets next week. That means we have just days to convince them to reject it.
Media has reported that Victorian Energy Minister, Lily D'Ambrosio, still has "major" concerns with the National Energy Guarantee ("NEG"), and is worried that "coal ideologues" and "climate sceptics" in the Turnbull government are still calling the shots.1
She's right to be worried. But being worried isn't enough — the Victorian government needs to make it clear that they'll vote down Turnbull's NEG unless it delivers for the climate and clean energy.
Here's the good news. Politicians take calls from concerned voters extremely seriously — especially when a state election is on the horizon.
The NEG's targets are too weak to cut climate pollution or build renewables. To hit targets as low as Turnbull's, members of the coal lobby would need to police suburban streets to stop people putting up solar panels!
Australia urgently needs a national plan to cut climate pollution in the electricity sector. But the NEG is going to do much more harm than good in its current form and here's why:
Australia urgently needs a national plan to cut climate pollution in the electricity sector. But the NEG is going to do much more harm than good in its current form and here's why:
- The NEG's targets are also too weak to cut power prices. New research released yesterday confirmed that more renewable-friendly targets would lead to more competition, less profits for coal corporations, and lower power bills.1
- Turnbull is trying to lock in these anti-renewable targets for an entire decade. This would make it impossible for the policy to deliver real cuts to carbon pollution until 2031!2
- The NEG is designed to let big power companies pick our pockets in private. Because there will be no public scrutiny of the contracts energy companies sign under the NEG, we won't even know how much price gouging is going on under the scheme!3
- There's nothing to stop the Coalition government from making a bad policy, even worse. Unlike other climate policies, such as the Victorian government's, there's no protection against cutting the NEG's weak targets even further. And because Turnbull is demanding that the states sign up to the NEG without even seeing the federal half of the scheme, there's nothing to stop him from sneaking extra support for coal into the package after the states have signed up to it.4
References:
[1] Turnbull's NEG to raise electricity prices and stunt the growth of renewables: report, Greenpeace Australia Pacific, 20 July 2018
[2] Coal deal to appease Coalition MPs could kill energy guarantee, ACT warns, The Guardian, 9 July 2018
[3] ESB leaves some unexpected booby traps in latest NEG update, Renew Economy, 18 June 2018
[4] Weak NEG puts pressure on farmers, truckers, factories to cut emissions, Renew Economy, 15 June 2018
If we can flood Victorian Labor MPs' offices with concerned calls over the next few days, we've a real opportunity to convince the Victorian Government to join the ACT in blocking Turnbull's anti-renewable plan.
Not sure what to say?
Remember to be polite! Your Victorian Labor MP may already be onside. Even if they aren't, a polite call can go a long way.
Not sure what to say?
- Find their office number on this page to give them a call
- Introduce yourself — mention that you're a constituent
- Ask to speak with your local Labor MP (they probably won't be available)
- Tell their staff that:
- You're very concerned about Turnbull's National Energy Guarantee (or "NEG")
- That you want Victorian Labor to stand up for clean energy and lower power prices by blocking any national energy plan that fails to build renewables
- Mention a couple reasons why the NEG should be rejected
- You want your MP to push the Victorian government to reject the NEG
- You ask that the office passes on this message as soon as possible
- Thank the staff member for their time — that's it!
Remember to be polite! Your Victorian Labor MP may already be onside. Even if they aren't, a polite call can go a long way.
CALL NOW
Can you a take a moment to call your Victorian Labor MP right now?
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