Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Milne, I move:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

Australia needs to reverse its current trend of increasing carbon emissions if it is to contribute to efforts to reduce the risks of climate change,

(ii)

a significant proportion of Australia’s energy use is represented by energy waste, with estimates by researchers suggesting that cost-effective (i.e. budget neutral) opportunities exist to reduce energy use in residential and commercial buildings by 30 to 35 per cent, and

(iii)

energy costs are increasing and will continue to do so, placing a growing burden on industry and households; and

(b)

resolves to:

(i)

work multilaterally with industry, the community, the Government and all opposition parties to ensure that reducing energy waste is considered as a policy opportunity commensurate with its potential for environmental and economic benefit,

(ii)

publicise the findings of the Prime Minister’s Energy Efficiency Task Group and support action for far-reaching recommendations to create a step change in energy efficiency implementation at the earliest opportunity, and

(iii)

work with the Australian Alliance to Save Energy to ensure that Members of Parliament are well informed on the opportunity that energy efficiency presents to improve Australia’s economic competitiveness and the large contribution that it can make to reducing greenhouse emissions.

Question agreed to.