Environment and Communications Legislation Committee - May 22 2012 - SUSTAINABILITY, ENVIRONMENT, WATER, POPULATION AND COMMUNITIES PORTFOLIO - Director of National Parks

Senator DI NATALE: I just have a few questions about the [Biodiversity Fund] grants issued in Victoria. I am interested in how many applications were received in total versus how many were granted.

Ms Lane : I do not have the Victorian application statistics with me, Senator.

Greens back Victorian fossil fuel moratorium: coal profits cost our health, land and climate

The Australians Greens have today backed a call for a moratorium on fossil fuel projects in Victoria.

“Community groups across Victoria clearly understand what Ted Baillieu does not - that short term profits from coal and coal seam gas will cost Australians our health, our prime agricultural land and our climate,” said Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne.

The Australian Greens have rejected a renewed push by the Baillieu government to expand brown coal mining in Victoria. The Greens will also look at what action can be taken by the Federal government to slow down the push.

"Minister Comber should not be encouraging these moves by the Baillieu government. The Clean Energy Future package is about transitioning away from our dependence on coal, in particular brown coal. The Gillard government should not undermine that by backing this move. It is economically and environmentally irresponsible," Deputy Greens Leader Senator Milne said.

The Greens have responded to a global call to action on climate change and health from the international health community by again urging the government to create a Climate Change and Health Taskforce.

“The international health community has spoken as one to warn of the threat to health posed by climate change,” said Greens’ health spokesperson, Dr. Richard Di Natale.

Some of the most prominent health professionals and organisations in the world have met in Durban and issued a joint declaration that warns of the grave health consequences of climate change.

The Greens are repeating their call for a Climate Change and Health Taskforce on the back of the Climate Commission report into the health risks of climate change.

“The Greens have long called for a Climate Change and Health Taskforce to undertake research into the health risks posed by climate change and develop a strategic plan to prevent and manage those risks,” said Greens spokesperson for health, Senator Richard Di Natale.

Greens’ spokesperson for health, Senator Richard Di Natale, has described the passage of the Clean Energy Future package as a positive step in improving the health of Australians and has now called for the establishment of a Climate Change and Health Taskforce.

“The country took an historic step towards a cleaner economy on Tuesday, but also towards a healthier future,” said Senator Di Natale.