September 27, 2001

Environment Groups Outline Election Campaign

Australian Conservation Foundation , The Wilderness Society , Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Conservation Councils of NSW, Victoria, Queensland, ACT, WA, NT, SA, Tasmania

With a federal election looming, Australia¹s leading national and state environment groups have united for the first time ever to map out a comprehensive environment agenda and campaign.

"To get environmental issues heard environment groups are combining as never before, outlining to all parties the urgent environment actions needed at a regional and national level, assessing the parties responses, and urging the community to join with us in bringing these issues to the candidates."

The campaign encompasses a grassroots, regional and national focus with groups working on:

• targeted electorate campaigns highlighting both local and national environmental issues in northern Queensland, Brisbane, Northern NSW, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Tasmania
• Regional events, rallies, meetings and forums
• An interim and final report cards assessing the performance , policies and commitments of all the parties

"While other issues are often perceived as top of the agenda, the environment consistently rates as "very important" in how a majority of people will vote in a federal election."

The environment groups agree it is essential that all political parties undertake to commit to the following:

• ratify the Kyoto protocol and have national laws with targets to cut greenhouse pollution, to improve energy efficiency and to increase renewable energy use
• use national laws and funding to control land clearing, and boost efforts to tackle salinity and repair the country
• protect old growth forests, our marine environment and Cape York, the Great Barrier Reef and Kakadu
• go nuclear-free by halting a second reactor for Sydney and preventing new uranium mines and nuclear dumps
• show environmental leadership at home and to the world

A summary policy priorities document, as well as complete policy priorities document are available at www.acfonline.org.au

For further information contact:

Cam Walker
National Liaison Officer, Friends of the Earth Australia
Mob: 0419 338 047

Peter Garrett
President ACF
available via Janetta Kerr-Grant
Mob: 0407 040 085

Don Henry
Executive Director ACF
Mob: 0418 501 395

Alec Marr
National Campaigns Director, TWS
Mob: 0417 229 670