This motion is being passed at Labor branches around Australia. If you would like your branch to pass this motion, please ensure that you let us know.

We will try to arrange for a LEAN Ambassador to visit your branch to discuss the motion and climate change more broadly.

The National LEAN Branch motion

The [insert here] branch congratulates Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on ratifying the Kyoto Protocol and acknowledging publicly the urgency of addressing climate change. In particular we support his statement that “climate change is nothing less than a threat to our people, our nation and our planet”.

We are, however, deeply concerned about the government’s target to reduce Australia’s emissions by only 5% by 2020 or 25% if a new Kyoto style international agreement is negotiated. We believe that these targets are inconsistent with the scientific evidence and with Australia taking a leadership role in international negotiations. To date the Labor Government’s climate change policy has not fully capitalised on the opportunities for economic and social development inherent in reducing emissions. Nor has it responded to the level of community concern and support for action on both mitigation and adaptation.

This branch therefore calls on the Commonwealth Government to:

1. Recognise that we need to return to a safe climate (a level of 325ppm greenhouse gases in the atmosphere) as fast as possible. We ask all Labor parliamentarians to work with the community to understand the climate emergency and therefore scale and speed of the needed action.
2. Commit to creating a Green New Deal in industry, employment and innovation. The transition to a low carbon economy offers the Australian government the chance to create a new manufacturing base, highly skilled jobs across rural and regional Australia and the necessary education programs for a low carbon workforce in the Asia-Pacific region. There is significant evidence that a Green New Deal approach or ‘green collar revolution’ will both kick start and protect the Australian economy during the global financial crisis.
3. Reinvigorate support for international human rights through the United Nations and other international forums, and recognise and prepare for the impact climate change will have on creating the pre-conditions for conflict. In particular, Australia should undertake an audit of the cultural, economic, environmental and civil resilience of all countries within Australia’s region of influence. In this way we can work with our neighbours building a communitarian and humane response to the increased water, food, fuel and land stresses that are predicted.

These three priority areas are of central importance if Australia is to establish itself as a leader on climate change, both domestically and internationally.

The ALP has a history of positive action on environmental issues, job creation and social justice. Previously the Federal Labor party led debate on climate change policy in Australia. We therefore call on the Rudd Labor Government to continue to implement these Labor values and to provide leadership on climate change for the welfare of all Australians, including future generations and for the protection of all life on the planet.

That this motion be forwarded to:

• Relevant State Policy Committees (contact your State ALP Head Office)
• Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
• Julia Gillard, Deputy Prime Minister ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
• Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Greg Combet, Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
• Peter Garrett, Minister for the Environment ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
• Martin Ferguson, Minister for Resources and Energy ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
• Lindsay Tanner, Minister for Finance ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
• Stephen Smith, Minister for Foreign Affairs ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
• Duncan Kerr, Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
• Bob McMullan, Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
• Robert McClelland, Attorney General ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
• Anthony Albanese, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
• Tony Bourke, Minister for Agriculture ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Please ensure you inform us here at LEAN, so we can add you to a list of Victorian (and National) branches that have passed this motion.