Greenhouse

NEWS: Climate Change dominates election agenda as Australians swing to Green's

18 August 2010

When Kevin Rudd and the Labor party first came to power in 2007, one of the first tasks he set his new regime was to sign the country up to the Kyoto Protocol, which the previous government had refused to ratify. In addition to this he promised a carbon-emissions trading scheme to heighten Australia's domestic action against climate change. However, Rudd later backtracked on this and the bill had difficulty getting through parliament and this signal of inaction led to his, and his party's, decline in popularity. In June, Julia Gillard seized power in a surprise move which saw Rudd ousted as the country's premier shortly before calling a snap election. The resulting election saw both the incumbent Labor party and the Liberal-National opposition (who have been firmly against the trading scheme) failing to impress the electorate enough to seize power.

Accompanied by the decline in the Labor vote was a surge in Green support, with the party registering 11% of the national vote. They could also emerge key players in the ongoing talks to establish a coalition as both sides attempt to get enough seats to secure that elusive majority. Glenn Albrecht, of Murdoch University in Perth believes this result sends a clear message. "Australian's are telling their parties that they take climate change seriously and they take the science seriously", he said.

Meanwhile the government of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has also announced it will enact tougher climate change policies with an initial target of 40% reduction of 1990 levels by 2020 rising to 80% by 2050.

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