Fremantle Environmental Resource Network

In the following article, ALP Member for Fremantle Melissa Parke swings her support behind sustainability...

“In my view, climate change stands before us as the great moral, social and economic imperative of our time and the greatest policy challenge of the 21st Century.  As the Labor candidate, I would love to see the Fremantle electorate become a community leader in urban sustainability.

I would like to see our commitment to pursuing both small and large-scale sustainability measures become an even stronger part of the Fremantle identity and so I intend to work as hard as I can to support the community groups, the local councils and schools, the families and many individuals who want to get proactive about water management, grey water re-use, renewable energy and public transport.
Imagine if in ten years all our schools derived a significant amount of electricity from their own solar panels.  Imagine if in ten years our kids could see their school grounds being watered by rainwater tanks and grey-water re-use systems.  Sustainability, as a matter of practice and as a matter of lived experience, could be our gift to future generations.

The Howard government has been cynical, grudging and negative in acknowledging the threat posed by climate change and in claiming that we must choose between the environment or the economy.  Yet, economists agree that it will be far costlier to delay action on climate change than to act now.
If elected, Labor will immediately ratify Kyoto and work constructively with other nations on climate change, it has set a mandatory renewable energy target of 20% by 2020 (solar, wind and geothermal) and a carbon emission reduction target of 60% by 2050.  It will provide solar panels and rainwater tanks to every school and establish a scheme to provide interest-free loans of up to $10,000 to householders to facilitate the installation of solar panels, water tanks and grey-water systems.
Urgent action on climate change is critical, and I know many people here in Fremantle including FERN members, are already doing their bit to prepare carefully and positively for the future. I want to be part of a government that will support them in these efforts.”