Australia - Labor's National Stance Undercut By State Governments' Coal Binge - SMH

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FEDERAL Labor's climate change credentials have come under attack in the light of its failure to rein in a greenhouse gas binge by Labor state governments. Environment groups said the Opposition Leader, Kevin Rudd, needed to explain how he would curb rising greenhouse gas emissions at a time when Queensland and NSW were dramatically boosting coal exports and several states were approving big road and power projects that would increase climate change pollution.

Mr Rudd's silence on the NSW Treasurer Michael Costa's climate change denial was also questioned. Mr Costa, who controls the purse strings of the most populous state, last month said supporters of climate change science created division and panic for political purposes.

The NSW Treasurer favours building a new coal-fired power plant to meet the state's energy needs, in contrast to other proposals for more gas-fired generation or energy efficiency and demand management. New coal-fired power stations would make it difficult for a federal Labor government to reach its target of cutting emissions by 60 per cent by 2050, said the Australian Conservation Foundation campaigner Tony Mohr. "The really interesting question to ask Kevin Rudd would be if Costa approves a new coal-fired power plant, what will he do about it?" Mr Mohr said. "How is he going to deal with the parochialism of the states?

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"What does Garrett say to Costa about this?" Mr. (Ed. - Greenpeace campaign director Stephen) Campbell said. "Does he agree with Costa that Tim Flannery is 'an idiot'? "If Labor wins the next election, how is it going to drive through climate change policies when senior ALP figures are climate change sceptics?"

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http://www.ecoearth.info/shared/reader/welcome.aspx?linkid=80056