Article: 'Why I turned my back on the ALP'

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

'Why I turned my back on the ALP'

'Why I turned my back on the ALP'
Ronan Lee | October 7, 2008

Last week I was the Member for Indooroopilly. This week I am the Member for Indooroopilly. The difference is that this week I am better able to advocate for the interests of my electorate and Queensland?s future.

Climate change is the single greatest challenge facing our generation. The determination with which we work to meet this challenge will without doubt determine the success or otherwise of our State into the future.

I have always been a passionate advocate for protecting our environment.

Whether it has been as part of the campaign to end broad scale tree clearing in Queensland ? at the time the ePetition I sponsored was the biggest ever; defending our State?s beautiful wilderness rivers ? I have led two visits by MPs to visit these, often remote, rivers so they can see their environmental value first-hand; proposing smarter strategies for developing the renewable energy sector or fighting for better public transport ? I asked questions in Parliament which highlighted the need to decrease the fare structure for Go Card users.

My environmental credentials are second to none.

Since my election to the Queensland Parliament in 2001 I have been a strong and consistent voice for the environment and wilderness protection. But I have always in the past sought to deliver for the environment as a strong green voice within the Labor Party. Indeed I believe that it is my genuine environmental credentials that have seen me elected three times in the formerly safe Liberal electorate for Indooroopilly

This strategy was not without some success. The 2004 ban on broad scale tree clearing remains a high point. However, these successes are always dramatically overshadowed by the Government?s reluctance to consistently deliver the environmental policies that are necessary to safeguard our state?s future in a world where climate change is the most pressing policy issue and where a commitment to renewable energy and wilderness protection are more important than ever.

That?s what ultimately made my decision to leave the Government and join the Greens a straightforward one.

Our community expects and deserves better than the Government has offered on the environment. The same is true for the Opposition.

Queensland is in real need of a strong voice for the environment. Only the Greens can offer that voice.

I will commit to support every good environmental proposal that comes before the Queensland Parliament but I will work to raise the awareness of Queenslanders about the opportunities that are frequently being wasted by the old parties.

Often its surprisingly simple for Government to deliver for the environment ? they just need the will and the ideas. Whether the Government has the will to deliver is up to them but here are some ideas:

1. Deliver on Labor?s 2004 and 2006 promise to provide protection to 19 of Queensland?s wilderness rivers under the Wild Rivers Act.
These pristine river systems are some of the best remaining free flowing rivers in the world. So far, after almost two Parliamentary terms just six of the 19 rivers promised have received protection.

2. Give our City a world-class public transport system.
Significantly more passenger trains and buses are needed to solve worsening public transport congestion. Brisbane is also desperately in need of new public transport infrastructure like a tram system or underground rail network.

3. Stop the Traveston Crossing Dam.
Premier Beattie said that if the Traveston proposal didn?t stack up environmentally then the dam simply wouldn?t proceed. Well, the research is now clear ? this dam, if built, will drive three species to the edge of extinction. The dam should be stopped.

4. Ensure every house is fitted with water tanks and has access to solar hot water.
This scheme should be rolled out starting with low income earners.

5. Fix the solar feed-in tariff.
This tariff is currently paid to residents who go to the expense of installing solar power at their homes based on the net of the power they produce minus the power they use. Every jurisdiction that is serious about building solar power knows that the only way for this to be achieved is by paying solar producers a tariff based on the gross power produced. The government could fix this easily and quickly.

My agenda will be overwhelming positive. And I am looking forward to working as the first Green in the Queensland Parliament towards a greener Queensland with a strong renewable energy sector, great public transport and respect and protection for our wilderness areas.

[mufreight]

Mr Lee might have gained more credibility and less canning had he simply become an independent, he could have then supported the Greens on environmental issues obviously close to his heart without being tied to the party policies of any party and thus would be able to act in the total intrests of his constituents.
His support for public transport is more than welcome.