Resident Steve Lockhart has returned from Canberra after taking part in an invitation-only day of events and meetings in Parliament House as part of the “Say Yes Australia” campaign.
The Say Yes campaign represents nine member groups who have a combined member base of over three million Australians, Mr Lockhart said.
“The ‘Climate Rescue Relay’ involved two inflatable planets that had travelled from both north and south, passing through many Australian communities, to meet in Canberra on this day, Monday, October 31,” he said.
The day’s events coincided with the introduction of the Clean Energy bills into the Senate.
A media conference was held in Parliament House and included key members of the Multi Party Climate Change Committee: Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott and Christine Milne.
“Following this, approximately 50 separate meetings between community representatives and various MPs were held in their parliamentary offices,” Mr Lockhart said.
“The talks were encouraging swift introduction of the remainder of the Clean Energy legislation, which refers to the formation and process of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.
“This is the piece of the package that creates financial backing to renewable and new technology energy projects. The CEFC is expected to be legislated in April 2012.
“These meetings also talked about working together in the coming year to improve support and understanding among constituents as we move towards implementation of the Clean Energy Future package.”
Regional youth representative and school captain of Lismore Trinity, Amelia Telford, and Mr Lockhart met with both Federal Member for Lyne, Rob Oakeshott and Federal Member for Page, Janelle Saffin, among other MPs.
“We each conveyed our deep gratitude to Mr Oakeshott for his influential and historical inputs into the Clean Energy legislation that will assist Australia to play its proportional role in reducing global greenhouse emissions,” Mr Lockhart explained.
“Mr Oakeshott has spent a lot of ‘political capital’ on this issue and we can be well proud of his efforts. Eighty per cent of Australians want effective action on climate change and the advice of our eminent economists is that pricing emissions is the most cost effective way forward.
“Individuals, businesses, investors and banks are already moving to be part of the clean energy economy. Potential opportunities in this economy are boundless. The Clean Energy legislation passes into law this week and is effective July 1, 2012.”
