Queensland needs Ministry of Renewable Energy: Greens

Queensland’s Green MP, Ronan Lee, has called on Premier, Anna Bligh, to address much more of the backlog in environmental policy before calling an election or risk a backlash from voters demanding a strong record of achievement in this area.

Mr Lee said the first thing the premier should do is to have a government re-organisation in which she creates a new Ministry for Renewable Energy.

Mr Lee said the first thing this new department should do is introduce a gross feed-in tariff for renewable energy which paid people who feed energy into the grid the full amount they produce rather than the net amount after household usage is deducted.

“We are the sunshine state and yet we have the worst take-up of solar energy systems in the country,” Mr Lee said.

“We don’t want to hear more government spin or what the government will do in its next term of office,” Mr Lee said.

“A government has to be judged on its record and the Bligh government needs many more runs on the board in such areas as climate change, renewable energy, wilderness protection and rivers.”