M O B I L I S I N G P E O P L E T O S A F E G U A R D O U R E N V I R O N M E N T ISSUE 15 • WINTER 2011

PLUSVictoria says YES to a price on pollution

Come Hell or High Water

Green Action News

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I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E

Green Action NewsIssue 15, Winter 2011

Design 2Fish Productions

Print Print Bound

Contributing writersVicki Kyriakakis, Mark Wakeham,Kelly O’Shanassy, Sarah Dobney,Domenica Settle, Charlie Davie,Tricia Phelan, Amelia Young, LouiseMatthieson, Fionnula Nguent.

EditorVicki Kyriakakis (03) 9341 8125editor@environmentvictoria.org.au

Membership enquiries (03) 9341 8100admin@environmentvictoria.org.au

Media enquiries(03) 9341 8127louise.mathiesson@greenmedia.org.au

Green Action News is anEnvironment Victoria publication.For more information, visitwww.environmentvictoria.org.au

IT’S BEEN A TOUGH three months hereat Environment Victoria as things beginto heat up for our campaigns andprograms. At the heart of it, is a newstate government that has taken manybackward steps on our environment.

On the one hand, we’re heavilyengaged in two large federal processesthat are our best hope to turn thingsaround for our suffering Murray Riverand finally take action on climatechange. On the other, the stategovernment has come after us hard –slashing our funding and letting usknow in no uncertain terms that they’reunhappy with our commitment to put aPrice on Pollution. (Read our article onwhat the funding cuts mean for us on page 5).

The net effect has been to up-the-anteon our work across the board and we’remore committed than ever tosafeguarding Victoria’s environment.While Environment Victoria will survivethe funding cut, and our campaigns willcontinue, our award-winningcommunity education programs,tailored for some of Victoria’s mostdisadvantaged communities, will take abig hit. (See our article on page 11).

Thankfully, we’ve worked hard over thepast three years to diversify our fundingbase, putting us in a strong position tosecure our financial independence. Andwe remain committed to runninginnovative and unique educationprograms for Victorians. But we needyour help now more than ever.

Unlike some of our biggest polluters,our environment doesn’t have aninsurance plan. We are the insuranceplan. We are the ones we’ve beenwaiting for. In the absence of politicalleadership, it is up to us to act.

So I would urge you to get involved inany way you can. You’ll see there aremany actions you can take right now tohelp us make a real difference to ourenvironment. And if you can, pleaseconsider making a financial donation toour work or becoming a Green ActionPartner with a regular monthly gift.

Above all though, I’d like to thank you– from the bottom of our hearts – foryour commitment and dedication toVictoria’s environment. It means theworld to us.

When the going gets tough, it can be all too easy to give up. But if the

last three months have taught us anything, it’s that the will and

commitment of Victoria’s environment movement can’t be broken.

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for

State governmentslashes funding

Budget time Australia’sLifeblood

Could a carbonprice replaceHazelwood?

We take on thebig polluters

Busting the Murray Myths

What’s specialabout ourprograms

The trees have it

Rob Michael:Forever Green

Legal challengemounted against new coal power plant

> Kelly O’Shanassy, Chief Executive Officer

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V I C T O R I A ’ S C O A L A D D I C T I O N

> Vicki Kyriakakis, Communications Manager

VICTORIA’S COAL INDUSTRY is on thewar path. But the war they’re waging isagainst some of Victoria’s most treasurednatural places. Huge swathes of land inplaces like Ninety Mile Beach, theGippsland Lakes, and the StrzeleckiRanges have all been licensed to coalmining companies, EnvironmentVictoria’s CoalWatch has revealed.

The alarming expansion plans couldthreaten some of Victoria’s favouriteholiday locations. The plans wererevealed just as 10,000 Victorians joinedthousands of Australians across thecountry to Say Yes to a Price on Pollutionas part of a big nationwide rally onWorld Environment Day.

The upcoming carbon price will seebig polluters forced to pay for thepollution they emit, yet Victoria’sCoalition Government has reaffirmedtheir commitment to the expansion ofdirty brown coal, “come hell or high-water”. This seemed to be furthersolidified with the appointment of ex-International Power staffer, PatrickGibbons, as chief energy and resourcesadvisor to the state government.(International Power owns Australia’sdirtiest power station, Hazelwood.)

It’s a series of decisions thatEnvironment Victoria’s CEO, KellyO’Shanassy, says makes little sense. “Inthe last couple of months, we’ve seenthem shut-down negotiations to replaceHazelwood and we’ve seen the EPAapprove the staged construction of thefirst new coal-fired power plant forVictoria in 23 years,” Kelly said. “In themeantime, thousands of Victorianssupport a price on pollution that wouldmake both Hazelwood and any newcoal-fired power station financiallyunviable. It’s economic andenvironmental lunacy.”

The state government’s reticencemakes a strong price on pollution thebest way to put a stop to the Victoriancoal industry’s expansion plans. That’swhy Environment Victoria has beenlobbying key federal decision makers

and mobilising Victorians to support astrong price on pollution. In conjunctionwith the Say Yes Australia alliance, we’vehit the ground running and gatheredgrowing support across the state. And –in a big win - we’ve succeeded in gettingkey solutions that we’ve proposed onthe negotiating table for a carbon price.(See our article on Replacing Hazelwood,on page 8)

The state government, however, hasn’tseemed to appreciate the support ourcampaign is garnering. In anextraordinary move, they decided todefund Environment Victoria. (See ourarticle on page 4). And just last monthsenior members of government told The Herald Sun that they were furious atour campaign supporting a strong Priceon Pollution.

Kelly said the moves were a sign ourcampaign was working. “A strong priceon pollution is our best bet to makeprojects like the new HRL coal-firedpower station unviable and kill off the state government’s love affair withdirty coal.”

“Frankly, though, we’ve never needmore support. The campaign is workingbut now more than ever we need toramp it up. We can’t afford to take abackwards step now.”

Come hell or high waterAs discussions over a carbon price heat up, Environment Victoria’s solutions have made it onto the national

negotiating table. Meanwhile, thousands of Victorians and over 140 Australian leaders and community groups have

come together to Say Yes to a Price on Pollution. So why is the Baillieu Government still stuck in the coal age?

CAN YOU MAKE ADONATION TOHELP US STOP THECOAL INDUSTRYIN ITS TRACKS?The state government hascome after us hard in responseto our growing campaign toput Price on Pollution. It’s asure sign that OUR CAMPAIGNIS WORKING! But we need yourhelp us keep it going. Make adonation to our price onpollution campaign and helpus put a stop to the dirty,brown coal industry’sexpansion plans for good. Justuse our simple donation format the back of this newsletter.And if you've already donated,THANK YOU!

Climate scientists say the floods that hitQueensland earlier this year could be asign of things to come.

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IT BEGAN WITH A snap rally on thesteps of Parliament House that drewover 300 people and mainstream mediacoverage. And it’s continued withEnvironment Victoria and climate actiongroup LIVE mounting a legal challengeto the proposed new HRL coal powerstation planned for Morwell in Victoria. If it goes ahead, the polluting powerstation will spew at least 2 milliontonnes of greenhouse gas into our skies each and every year, for the next 40 years.

The challenge to the EPA’s approvalhas been prepared by solicitors from theEnvironment Defenders Office (EDO)with expert environmental law barristersAdrian Finanzio and Rupert Watters. Itwas lodged with the Victorian Civil andAdministrative Tribunal (VCAT) earlierthis month.

EDO Principle Solicitor Felicity Millnersaid the case would be an important testfor how well the law protects people andthe environment in the context ofclimate change. “If successful, this case

will make approving new coal-firedpower stations under current laws verydifficult.”

Environment Victoria CampaignsDirector, Mark Wakeham, said a keyargument of the case would be thatthe power station could preventVictoria from meeting its legislatedemissions reductions target. “If thispower station proceeds it will crowdout genuinely clean power stations andmake it impossible for Victoria toachieve its legislated target to reducegreenhouse emissions by 20 percent by2020,” Mark said.

Despite the original Chinese partnerspulling out and the project strugglingto find the finances it needs to goahead, the state and federalgovernments have thrown a combined$150 million in tax-payer dollars at thefinancial white elephant. The legalchallenge could be the nail in the coffinfor the struggling project.

“This is the first time a new majorpower station has been the subject of areview in VCAT,” Ms Millner said. “Thisimportant case will test the relevanceof broader state and federal policies toindividual proposals for new coalpower stations.”

Help us STOP HRL by signingour online petition to PrimeMinister Gillard and PremierTed Baillieu. Ask them to SAY NO to newcoal-fired power for Victoria.www.environmentvictoria.org.au/say-no-new-coal-power-victoria.

SIGN UP TO OUR SAFECLIMATE BULLETINYou can keep up to date withour legal challenge against theEPA’s decision by signing up toour regular bulletin atwww.environmentvictoria.org.au/sign-up.

TAKEACTION

Environment groups mountlegal challenge against new coal power plant

EDO Solicitor Nick Croggon (left) with Environmental LawBarrister Adrian Finanzio, Environment Victoria CampaignsDirector Mark Wakeham, and Deborah Hart from LIVE.

> Vicki Kyriakakis, CommunicationsManager, Louise Matthieson, Media Officer,and Tricia Phelan, Safe Climate Campaigner

When the Victorian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)

announced the approval of the staged construction of a new coal-fired

power station for our state late last month, we sprang into action.

V I C T O R I A ’ S C O A L A D D I C T I O N

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IT STARTED ON state budget day, whenthe Transport Minister pulled ourfunding to engage communities onsustainable transport issues.Environment Victoria was the only not-for-profit mentioned in over fourvolumes of budget papers. The next day,the EPA ended over 12 months ofnegotiations with us to develop newways to help them effectively engagewith Victorian communities.

With the environment sectorspecifically singled out, the move seemsto be part of a larger agenda to silenceenvironmental activism in Victoria andshut-down our efforts to safeguard ourenvironment.

For over 40 years we’ve receivedfunding from successive stategovernments to train and educatecommunity leaders to engage ingovernment environmental planningand decisions. And we receive funds tohelp the most disadvantaged Victorians– including newly arrive refugees – tosave water and energy. So this loss offunds will affect our environment and

the most disadvantaged Victorians themost. (Read about what makes ourprograms so special on page 11).

But slashing our funding is just asymptom of a bigger problem.

Since being elected, the VictorianGovernment has taken many regressiveenvironmental actions. They’ve returnedcattle to the Alpine National Park,stymied wind farms, supported coal, andended discussions to replace Hazelwoodwith clean energy. And that’s just thebeginning.

So what’s next for us? We want you to know that we’re notgoing anywhere. Our campaign andadvocacy work is independently fundedby concerned Victorians like you whowant a healthy future for our state. Andthis work will continue.

As for our finances, over the past fewyears we’ve launched our Green FutureFund and boosted our fundraisingactivities to fast-track our transition tofinancial independence. We’ll still take abig hit but thanks to the help of our

donors and supporters, we’ll survive thisfunding loss.

We’ll keep you posted on any furtherdevelopments, including how we’llcontinue our important education work.We believe absolutely that if we are tosolve the environmental challenges beforeus, we need everyone to take action.Education is the first step. In the meantime,we wanted to sincerely thank you for yourongoing support for Victoria’senvironment. Together you’ve helped usmake our state a better place to live. At theend of the day isn’t that what it’s all about?

We need you now more than ever. Help us continue our important work tosafeguard Victoria’s environment.Become a Green Action Partner today orupgrade your monthly gift and help ussecure our financial independence. Justfill in our form at the back of thisnewsletter or sign-up online atwww.environmentvictoria.org.au/give.

(You can see this article in full onEnvironment Victoria’s blog:www.environmentvictoria.org.au/blog)

State Government slashesEnvironment Victoria funding> Kelly O’Shanassy, CEO

B U D G E T N E W S

By now you will have heard the news:

the Baillieu Government is slashing

Environment Victoria’s funding. The

extraordinary move came as the

Baillieu Government

expressed its fury at

our strong

campaign

against the dangerous

expansion plans of the coal

industry and our support for

an effective price on pollution.

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B U D G E T N E W S

THE THEME THIS year for the stategovernment’s efforts was ‘piecemeal’.

Having failed to release acomprehensive environment policybefore the election, the state budgetwas a good opportunity for the BaillieuGovernment to set a clear agenda totackle Victoria’s most urgentenvironmental problems.

Before the election, the Coalition hadcommitted to cutting Victoria’sgreenhouse pollution by 20 percent by2020, overhauling Victoria’s housingstock for water and energy efficiency,and returning water to rivers.Unfortunately, the budget didn’t deliveron this agenda and contained few newenvironmental programs.

There were some positive initiatives,including funding for public transport,water recycling, and stormwater capture.They also funded local communityenvironmental works and Landcare.Elsewhere, and buried in the budget,was the welcome decision to increaselandfill levies next year. The decision will

see an increase in recycling rates andlead to positive environmentaloutcomes.

But these positive measures areinadequate without an overarching planfor environmental protection andemissions reduction.

Closer to home, Environment Victoriawas also the only organisationmentioned in four volumes of budgetpapers for funding cuts. The decisionsends a worrying signal on top of theCoalition’s dubious environmental trackrecord for the state of our environmentmoving forward. (See our article on page5 for more on their decision to defundEnvironment Victoria).

Outside of carbon price negotiationsand the Murray Darling Basin Plan, thefederal budget was also disappointinglyquiet on the environment.

There were a couple of bright spotswith the announcement that fossil fuelsubsidies are set to be reduced. TheFringe Benefits Tax subsidy thatencourages over-use of company cars

is set to be reformed. This willhopefully put a stop to end-of-financial-year trips to click up car milesand receive a tax deduction. Elsewherenearly $500 million worth of fundsearmarked for dodgy carbon captureand storage projects was deferred. Thisreflects the fact that there are very fewgenuine carbon capture proposals onthe table.

Overall, however, it was adisappointing budget for the naturalenvironment. No major newinvestment in biodiversity protectionor land management was announced,and no commitment of funds wasmade to end old-growth logging.

The big bucks and all eyes arecurrently attached to a price onpollution and the Murray-Darling BasinPlan. These processes, however, willnot deliver across the broad spectrumof environmental issues – making itmore important than ever that wecontinue to work towards a greenerbudget in coming years.

The first half of May was budget time and the state and federal governments both made some crucial

decisions on their spending priorities for the next year. The annual budget announcements are where

the rubber meets the road, so what did this year’s efforts hold for our environment?

> Mark Wakeham, Campaigns Director

The Victorian Government is responsiblefor ensuring a healthy environment forall Victorians. So we think the BaillieuGovernment is caretaker numero unowhen it comes to safeguarding ourenvironment.That’s why we’ve launched our onlineEnviroWatch resource. We’ll be trackingall the decisions the state governmentmakes for and against our environmentand making sure you know what’s what.Keep up with the latest announcements atwww.environmentvictoria.org.au/envirowatchDoes this get your temperature rising?Ask Ted where his plan is.www.environmentvictoria.org.au/ted

EVERY STEP THEY TAKE,WE’LL BE WATCHING

Putting yourmoney wheretheir mouth is

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W AT E R A N D H E A L T H Y R I V E R S

TAKE ACTION: Make sure one of the Blackberry beeps is yours! It’s not too late to throwyour support behind our campaign. Sign our online petition at www.environmentvictoria.org.au/content/save-murray and make sure Craig Knowles’ blackberry continues to beep!

Read more on the science behind the plan at www.environmentvictoria.org.au/blog/posts/scienceGet the latest on our campaign: www.environmentvictoria.org.au/save-the-murray

Australia’s lifeblood: our Savethe Murray campaign heats up.During our recent Doorknock

Day, we gathered the support of

hundreds of Victorians who want

our mighty Murray River to get its

fair share of water. Yet the

Murray-Darling Basin Plan is still

at risk of being far off target.

Healthy Rivers Campaigner,

AMELIA YOUNG, reports.

“Worst-case scenariois that in five or sixyears time when wehave another droughtwe’ll be in the samesituation as we arenow, we’ll be seeingthe same impacts aswe have seen in therecent drought. We willhave spent $10 billion.We’ll have a hell of alot more irrigationinfrastructure that wehave to support andpay for. I don’t thinkit’s a good outcome for anyone.”

— Tim Stubbs, Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists

IN THE LEAD-UP to World EnvironmentDay on 5 June, Environment Victoriatook to the streets of Moonee Ponds andWerribee (in the PM’s electorate) for acommunity doorknock. A group offabulous volunteers went door-to-doorto talk to householders about the twomost important environment issueswe’re currently facing – putting aneffective price on pollution, and savingthe Murray-Darling.

What we found was that there aregreat levels of public support for theimportant national water reform to giveour mighty Murray a fair share of water.In Werribee 67 percent of householders who answered our doorknockers signedour petition; and in Moonee Ponds itwent up to a whopping 80 percent.

It’s a result that’s all the moreimportant given the hot debate that hassprung up around the science behindthe soon-to-be-released Basin Plan.

Just last month, a group of leadingscientists – the Wentworth Group ofConcerned Scientists – stepped backfrom the Murray-Darling Basin Planreform process. Not only do the groupsay the plan is flawed, they also claim itwill be a waste of billions of taxpayer

dollars as returning too little water to the environment won’t rescue the ailingriver system.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authorityhas since confirmed that a paltry 2,800gigalitres is being considered for theriver system. The figure falls well short of the 4,000 plus gigalitres thatindependent scientists say is needed torevive the system.

Environment Victoria has written toVictorian MPs and Senators about thelooming crisis in the reform of watermanagement in the Murray-DarlingBasin, and called for the immediateappointment of a Basin ScientificAdvisory Committee.

In the meantime, we’ve beengathering support for a strong BasinPlan with our online petition. We knowyour voices are being heard as AuthorityChair Craig Knowles jested that he hadto lock his Blackberry in the boot of hiscar, it was making so much noise as yourpetitions flowed in!

In coming weeks we’ll be stepping upthe pressure and doing our best toensure that the Murray-Darling BasinPlan released is based on sound scienceand delivers results for the Murray River.

P R I C E O N P O L L U T I O N

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Could a Price on Pollutionreplace Hazelwood?

THE KEY DECISIONS of the MultiParliamentary Climate Change Committeearound a price on pollution are still beingmade, but these discussions will set thescene for the future of Victoria’s dirtybrown coal industry.

One of the most controversial areas ofthe Rudd Government’s original proposedCarbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS)was the exorbitant assistance provided tocoal-fired generators. Under the proposal,the operators of our most polluting powerstations would have received $7.3 billionworth of free permits. The compensationwas to come with few strings attached.There was no requirement, for example, forthese coal-fired power stations to reducetheir emissions or retire generating unitsover time.

It’s a difficult policy area, where fewenvironment groups have dared to tread.But here at Environment Victoria wedecided it was critical to offer up somenew ideas. So we’ve been working inrecent weeks with energy market analyststo develop proposals that would see someof the carbon price revenues raisedthrough a price on pollution used tosecure the closure of our most pollutingpower stations – like Hazelwood.

The solutions we’ve provided to the ALP,Greens and Independents will ensure wedon’t end up with a repeat of the CPRSdeal and fistfuls of public cash going to

big polluters for little environmentalbenefit. We particularly wanted to makesure that a price on pollution saw thereplacement of Victoria’s brown coalgenerators, and not their continuation.

While we’d prefer that coal-firedgenerators receive no compensation andare forced to close through a strongcarbon price, the ALP has made it veryclear that some assistance will be granted.So we’re trying to ensure that the deal atleast delivers the maximum emissionsreductions possible.

We’ve now met with many of the keydecision-makers, from the Prime Minister’soffice to the Greens and Independents.And we’ve been running a strong mediacampaign on the issue. With our proposalnow forming part of the discussions of theMPCCC, we’re hopeful that it may lead to adeal that will close Hazelwood once andfor all.

As we see it, for the public to support aprice on pollution it will need to transformAustralia’s energy supply. ReplacingHazelwood and other polluting coal-firedpower stations would be a very tangiblesign that we are getting on with the job.

We’ve been working hard to secureHazelwood’s replacement for the past two years. And we won't rest until we achieve this critical step in thefight to reduce emissions and tackleclimate change.

Thousands ofVictorians rallied toReplace Hazelwoodin the lead-up tolast year’s stateelection. A price onpollution couldmake it a reality.

As this goes to press, intense negotiations are underway on the details of the carbon price package.Many questions remain to be answered, such as what will the starting price be? What will the ramp-up rate be? What support will it include for renewable energy and energy efficiency? Will it help us Replace Hazelwood? Campaigns Director, MARK WAKEHAM, outlines why the answer to the last question at least could be yes.

Staff here at the Green Building have joinedover 45,000 Australians to say ‘YES’ to a price onpollution. And over 140 Australian leaders andcommunity groups – including actors Tom Long,Cate Blanchett, and Rebecca Gibney, climatescientist Professor David Karoly, ex-Prime MinisterMalcolm Fraser, and organisations likeEnvironment Victoria – have thrown their supportbehind the Say YES campaign. Meanwhile, here inVictoria, we’ve been lobbying the key decisionmakers hard and getting our crucial solutionsonto the negotiation table. We’ve been out in thecommunity talking to everyday Victorians andgathering community support for an effectiveprice on pollution. The result has been a strong,grassroots campaign that’s making a real impact

Help us SAY YES to

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Environment Victoria, ACF and Greenpeace launchPolluterWatch with supporters dressing as ‘greedypig’ polluters demanding money to pollute.

Environment Victoria takes on the big polluters> Mark Wakeham, Campaigns Director

on the political stage. As negotiations enter acritical stage, it’s not too late to get involved andSay YES to a strong price on pollution.

Here’s four things you can do right now

to Say YES:

1. Make a donation to support our grassrootscampaign for a strong price on pollution.

2. Return your petition to the Prime Ministerenclosed with your newsletter.

3. Phone, visit or write to your local MP and tellthem that you support a strong price onpollution.

4. Spread the word. Ask your like minded friends,family and work colleagues to take theseactions too!

a Price on Pollution

With the federal ALP, Greens and Independents making critical

decisions about a price on pollution, many of our biggest

polluters are making outrageous claims to avoid responsibility.

Enter: PolluterWatch.

TAKE ACTIONCheck out PolluterWatch online atwww.environmentvictoria.org.au/polluterwatch and arm yourselfwith the Big Polluter facts. Sick oftheir belly-aching and whinging?Send the Big Polluters a petitionusing our easy online form and tellthem to stop crying wolf >www.environmentvictoria.org.au/the-big-boys-who-cried-wolf

LAUNCHED LAST MONTH,Environment Victoria’s newPolluterWatch is testing the bogusclaims of our biggest polluters. And therhetoric doesn’t match the reality. After all, if these big companies don’tpay their fair share under a price oncarbon, the burden will fall on Australianhouseholds. And there will be lessmoney to support the shift to arenewable economy.

That’s why we released our first waveof PolluterWatch briefings in conjunctionwith the Australian Youth ClimateCoalition, ACF and Greenpeace, lastmonth. We put the claims of five of thebiggest polluters under the spotlight inbriefing papers on Alcoa, BluescopeSteel, BHP Billiton, International Powerand Woodside.

What we found was that far frombeing brought to their knees, a price onpollution will have a minimal impact onthese companies. What’s more, the priceis a big opportunity for them to clean uptheir act and catch-up with theirinternational counterparts who arepolluting less.

Our research shows that Australia’s bigpolluters are some of the dirtiestcompanies in the world. The industries inwhich they operate have had numerousopportunities to improve their energyefficiency and reduce their pollution

over the years. For the most part,however, their profits, revenues, sales,and CEO salaries have continued to riseinto the multimillions and billions ofdollars while they’ve continued to pushout millions of tonnes of pollution thatAustralians are paying for.

While publically threatening to cutjobs, close plants and shelve plannedinvestments in Australia – thesecompanies fail to make any suchannouncements to their shareholders. Infact, some of them are telling the marketthey could even benefit from a price onpollution.

Now more than ever, it’s importantthat we keep an eye on what’s real andwhat’s not when it comes to the scaretactics of the big polluters. AndPolluterWatch is already having animpact. Over 1000 of our supportersjoined us to email the CEO’s of thesepolluting companies and they allreceived a response from BlueScope’sCEO attempting to justify their claims.We’ve been providing the media andpoliticians with our information toweaken the hand of the big polluters asnegotiations on a price on pollutionreach crunch time. And we’ve followedup the briefings with actions targetingBlueScope and BHP Billiton.

We’ll be releasing a second round ofPolluterWatch briefings in coming weekson Rio Tinto, TruEnergy, Xstrata and aspecial brief on big polluter industryassociations such as the Minerals Councilof Australia.

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W AT E R A N D H E A L T H Y R I V E R S

Busting the myths: shouldthe water act be changed?

BACK IN 2007, Senator Joyce along withall other members on both sides ofParliament (bar one), supported the Act.Now, together with irrigator and farminglobbies and some Coalition colleagues,Senator Joyce wants an investigationinto whether the Act provides an equalbalance between economic, social andenvironmental factors.

Should a Commonwealth Act ofParliament – set up with bipartisansupport to rescue a dying river system –be changed?

We think the suggestion is reckless.The Act is sound. However, it’s inevitablethat different stakeholders will view theAct’s implementation through the Planwith different values and objectives inmind.

It’s true there are a range of legalviewpoints about interpretation of theWater Act. But in their submission, theEnvironment Defender’s Office cautionagainst oversimplification andmisinterpretation of the Act and point

out that although the concept of‘balance’ might have superficial appeal,in practice it is problematic.

Expert constitutional lawyer, GeorgeWilliams has said that if the Basin plandoes not properly look after theenvironment, then the CommonwealthGovernment can be taken to court forbeing in breach of the internationalconventions.

And international conventions are theitem upon which one international legalopinion has found fault with our WaterAct, saying that it is an environmentalAct because that’s all it could be.

Frankly, if it’s an environmental Act,that’s because it needs to be. Withoutimportant national water reform, theMurray-Darling Basin faces a veryuncertain future – environmentally,socially and economically.This is an excerpt from one of our Irrigator-lobby Myth-busting series. Read the full post and other myth-busting articles at www.environmentvictoria.org.au/busting-myths

As we go to press, the Senate Inquiry into the Provisions of the

Water Act (2007) is due to report. The Inquiry was instigated in

February by Nationals Senator, Barnaby Joyce. Healthy Rivers

Campaigner, AMELIA YOUNG, busts the myth that the water act

needs to be changed.

The Windsor-chairedinquiry into the socio-economic impacts of theMurray-Darling Bain Planwas announced in theaftermath of the release ofthe Draft Basin Plan lastOctober. In a bid to calmirrigator hysteria - whocould forget the book-burning in the streets -Minister Simon Creanannounced the Inquiry,with a committee made upof a cross-section ofgovernment oppositionand independent MPs.

The Committee membersreached what's beenpresented as a unanimousconclusion and handeddown their report earlierthis month. The report callsfor the suspension of non-strategic buybacks.

Environment Victoria,however, believes thatvoluntary water buybacksare the most effective andefficient way of returningwater to the environmentand must continue.

For the full wrap-up ofwhat's in the report andour response to it, go towww.environmentvictoria.org.au/blog/posts/windsor-inquiry

WINDSORINQUIRYREPORTS

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MICHELE BURTON HAS been with theSustainable Living team for nearly tenyears, and worked with hundreds ofVictorians on projects as diverse asSmogBusters and GreenTown. So she’suniquely placed to talk about thedifference the program has made in thelives of thousands of Victorians.

“I’ve really enjoyed watching theprogram take on a life of its own.Through capacity building, I’ve seensustainable living knowledge deeplyembedded. Conversations with family,friends and neighbours continue longafter our programs wrap up. Some haveeven gone as far as receiving their ownfunding to continue our work andspread the benefits wider and deeperwithin their community. So the successof our projects is gladly shared.”

SINCE STARTING WITH EnvironmentVictoria seven years ago, Charlie Daviehas trained and inspired hundreds ofyoung refugees and migrants to becomeMulticultural Leaders in Sustainability.His reward? Being inspired by them inturn.

“I’m truly inspired by the enthusiasmof my participants. When they learn thatAustralia has serious environmentalchallenges to deal with, they want tojump straight in and help, which is reallyheartwarming. Their passion for ourenvironment, hope for a greenercommunity and willingness to learn andmake a positive contribution to societyreally shines though. It makes my job sorewarding. Some have even spoken ofhow proud they are of their role asinfluential environmental leaders, soplaying a role in that brings greatpersonal rewards. I’m also inspired by myworkmates. They’re such a talented,compassionate bunch – I find it anabsolute joy to come to work every day.”

NINA BAILEY HIT the ground runningat Environment Victoria two years ago,and she hasn’t stopped since. Fromworking with the Burmese communityto lunch with young people from theEast-African community, each day bringssomething new. It’s a challenge Ninasays she thrives on.

“It’s not uncommon for me to skipfrom a Buddhas Day celebration inFlemington, to a field trip at CERES withArabic speaking women, to a meetingwith the Burmese community in

Ringwood – all in a day’s work. So youcan imagine, this makes for one super-busy but exciting job. One of the reallyexciting things is hearing about theenvironmental issues and effects ofclimate change in different parts of theworld and how different communitiesare meeting these challenges. It makesfor fascinating and illuminatingdiscussions. I often find I have as muchto learn from them as they do from us.”

S U S T A I N A B L E L I F E S T Y L E S

What makes our sustainableliving programs so special?> Sarah Dobney, Communications Officer

WHAT MORE INFORMATION OR ADVICE ON RUNNING SUSTAINABLELIVING PROGRAMS? Contact our inspiring team on (03) 9341 8105 or atmichele.burton@environmentvictoria.org.au

INSPIRED? Our Sustainable Living Programs are under threat from fundinglosses by the state government. Help us keep inspiring Victorians bybecoming a Green Action Partner today. Just fill in our simple form at theback of this newsletter.

Over the last decade, our

Sustainable Living team has

helped thousands of Victorians -

from all walks of life – learn

about sustainability, take action

and make a real difference in

their homes and communities.

So who are the brains and

brawns that make our unique

and award-winning programs

happen? We’re glad you asked.

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S U S T A I N A B L E L I F E S T Y L E S

Nature close to the heart forVictoria’s Karenni community> Domenica Settle, Sustainable Living Project Officer

Altona is a long way from the forests of Burma, but that doesn’t stop the Karenni community of Melbourne

from celebrating their annual Kay Hto Boe Festival in their traditional way. Environment Victoria’s Nina

Bailey and Charlie Davie were both invited along for the ride.

THE KARENNI PEOPLE come from themountainous Karenni State in the east ofBurma. Many have been on refugeejourneys that have taken them fromcamps on the Thai border to thesprawling suburbs of Melbourne.

For six young Karenni people thatjourney led them to EnvironmentVictoria’s Multicultural Leaders inSustainability project in Sunshine. Whilethe young leaders learned about theAustralian environment andsustainability, our Sustainable LivingProject Managers Nina and Charlie werelearning first hand about Karenni culturewith a special invitation to go along andparticipate in this year’s festival.

Held at The Pines Scout Camp inAltona, not far from the oil refineries ofMelbourne’s west, the festival is one ofthe most important on the Karennicalendar. It was a proud display of howdeeply this community cares forVictoria’s environment.

“When we got there, a communityelder called Augustino came over andexplained was was happening,” saidNina. “In the Karenni state, the wholevillage would walk into the forest to cutdown a tree. After this they thank thetree and ask blessings for the tree thatwill grow in its place. Then they carry thetree back to the village to erect it as atotem pole, to honour the grandfathercreation god and bring about anabundant rainy season.”

This deep-seated concern for theenvironment makes the Karenni people,and in fact many refugees and migrants,very willing to live sustainably inAustralia. But without much English theyoften don’t know the environmentalpressures Australia faces or where tostart. “Burma and Thailand are muchwetter places than Victoria,” EnvironmentVictoria Project Manager, Charlieexplained. “People arrive here and watercomes flowing out of the tap wheneveryou want it. If you don’t speak muchEnglish, how are you supposed to know

that you shouldn’t just use as much asyou like?”

Our Multicultural Leaders inSustainability program helped theyoung participants to translate theirculture’s concern for nature intoreducing the environmental impact ofday-to-day living in urban Melbourne. Italso helped them to communicate thisto others in their community. Several ofthe participants took fellow Karenni on atrip to a local reservoir to give them afirst hand understanding of water issues.

“I love working with young peoplefrom all kinds of backgrounds, learningtheir perspectives on sustainability andstarting them on their environmentaljourney here,” says Charlie. “We knowthat the environmental messages getthrough to them, because we measurethe results. But it’s an honour to knowthat we’re also accepted by thecommunities we work with. It’s a realhonour to be invited to be part of whatreally matters to them.”

Deep-seated concern forthe environment makesthe Karenni people, manyrefugees and migrants,very willing to livesustainably in Australia.

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The trees have it

The trees they love don’t seem so far away asHawo, Djuldjan, Ipek and fellow participantsfrom Environment Victoria’s MulticulturalLeaders in Sustainability program get up closeand personal with Victoria’s natural beauty.

S U S T A I N A B L E L I F E S T Y L E S

THE TRIO love studying English at AMESEnglish Language school in St Albans. “Itmakes me feel that Australia is my home,that I really belong here. I am starting tofeel confident about getting to knowthis place,” Djuldjan said.

Green Action News spoke to themabout their home countries andexperiences in learning about theenvironment in Australia.

Hawo believes that the mostimportant thing she has learnt is thatusing energy causes pollution andaffects the air. “Even though we can’t seeit, it has an impact. People need to knowthis. I think they forget,” she said.

And MLS has got Ipek thinking about

saving energy and water. “Shortershowers, unplugging the phone charger,I am thinking about these things insteadof sleeping.”

Djuldjan and Ipek recently helpedorganise a planting activity for the groupin St Albans. In her home in the FYR ofMacedonia, Djldjan explained, there is atree-planting day every year. “Schools,businesses, politicians all get involved,”she said. Fellow organiser Ipek said onething she misses from her home town inthe north of Cyprus is her orange tree.

“One big difference betweenMelbourne and Mogadishu is all thetrees in the streets and parks here,” addsHawo. “In Somalia, there are no trees on

the streets, but every house has one bigtree. Planting a shade tree is the firstthing you do when you build a house.There is no air-conditioning in Somalia,so the shade is what keeps us cool. Thatis sustainability!”

MLS is funded by the Lord Mayor'sCharitable Foundation, the RE Ross Trust,City West Water, Brimbank City Counciland AMES St Albans. It was designed inpartnership with the Centre forMulticultural Youth.

> Charlie Davie, Sustainable Living Project Manager

Hawo, Djuldjan and Ipek are all in their early twenties and have

lived in Australia for just a few months. But they’ve already embraced

environmentalism through Environment Victoria’s Multicultural Leaders

in Sustainability project.

SUSTAINABILITY,TANNUR-STYLE…Making bread, heating thehome, and heating water all atonce. Multicultural Leaders inSustainability Zuhra andSaamer tell us that back homein Afghanistan and Iraq, theyuse a versatile earth-ovencalled a tannūr. While thebread is being baked, the waterheats up, and after dinnerthere is warm water for bathing– not in a shower, but with abucket and a ladle. Now that’stasty and resourceful!

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AS THE STAKES continue to rise for ourenvironment and climate, many of uswish we could help a little bit more. Butmany people are also not able to give asmuch as they would like during theirlifetimes. A Will is the place where youcan thoughtfully provide not only foryour family and friends, but also to abetter future and the environmentalissues close to your heart.

So what motivated Rob to becomeForever Green?

GAN: What are your greatestenvironmental concerns?ROB: For me, global warming is mybiggest concern. If global warmingwreaks environmental and climatichavoc, then to me everything elsebecomes secondary. Global warming willdirectly touch humanity via reducedfood cultivation, potentially resulting instarvation of millions of people all overthe globe.

I use a 3kW PV solar system, solar hotwater, and double glazing in addition toother CO2 reduction methods aroundmy home. I can fully offset my carbonemissions… it’s my personalcontribution to reducing CO2 emissionswhile recognising that still more needsto be done by commerce, government,

industry and individuals.Addressing global warming is where

I’m directing all my charitable funds.

GAN: When did you decide to leave abequest to Environment Victoria?ROB: Eight years ago, I includedEnvironment Victoria in my will. Iperiodically adjust my Will to reflect thechanges in my philanthropic prioritiesand presently 80 percent of my Will isdirected to five environmentalorganisations, including EnvironmentVictoria. Having worked with and seenEnvironment Victoria’s work first hand,I’m confident to donate a vastproportion of my Estate to EnvironmentVictoria. I’m sure the funds will be usedin the manner I’ve come to expect fromthem – that is, that the monies are usedwisely, effectively, and prudently.

GAN: Why do you think EnvironmentVictoria would be a good choice to leaveyour legacy? ROB: I’m really into the concept of‘Thinking Global, Acting Local’ andEnvironment Victoria’s work is aligned tomy environmental objectives.Environment Victoria is able to fight thebattles that we all want to fight for thebenefit of our environment — against

ill-conceived notions of governments,commerce, industry – all thosemisaligned vested interests. My bequestensures my commitment providessupport to Environment Victoria once I’mgone, ensuring they can continue theirenvironmental protection activities.

GAN: What is your hope for the future ofVictoria’s environment? What would youlike to imagine the state would be like100 years from now?ROB: Global warming is what I’mworried about, so I suppose I maybenaively optimistic that the world will bealright – that we’ll have made thechanges required in time beforeenvironmental degradation. Bysupporting Environment Victoria, myfunds will assist in achieving the changeswe need for our environment to prosper,now and into the future.

ROB MICHAEL: Forever Green

B E Q U E S T S

Like Rob, you too can help Victoriabecome Forever Green. Simply fillin the form on the next page andwe’ll send you your very ownForever Green Information Pack.

BECOME FOREVER GREEN

Rob Michael has been financial supporter of Environment Victoria since 2000. Eight years ago, hedecided to leave a lasting legacy to Environment Victoria in his Will, helping to create a Victoria that’sForever Green. Green Action News spoke with Rob about what drives his passion for the environment.

‘I can fully offsetmy carbonemissions… it’smy personalcontribution to reducing CO2emissions…’

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Please find enclosed: ■■ Cheque or ■■ Money Order (payable to Environment Victoria Inc.)

Or charge my credit card as follows. ■■ Amex ■■ Mastercard ■■ Visa

Cardholder’s name: ________________________________________Expiry date: __ __ / __ __ Signature: ___________________________

Card number: | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | – | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | – | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | – | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ |

PERSONAL DETAILS

Title: First Name: Family Name:

Address:

Suburb: State: Postcode:

Email:

Tel: (BH) (AH)

■■ Please send me information about how I can create a Victoria that’s FOREVER GREEN by making a gift to Environment Victoria in my Will.

■■ Please send all future correspondence by email.

Are your personal details correct on your letter? Or are you moving soon? Please update your personal information here if necessary.

Help us to help you by telling us a little bit more about yourself. (All information will be kept strictly confidential).

Date of Birth: D_______/ M_______/ Y_______ Occupation: _____________________________________________________

Please complete this form, tear off this page and return it to Reply Paid 12575, A’Beckett Street, Melbourne, VIC 8006 or visit

www.environmentvictoria.org.au/give and make your donation online. Thank you for your generosity!

Take a stand and help usprotect Victoria’s environment

At this crucial time, it’s up to us to stand up for Victoria’s environment and environmental activism. But we can only do it with your

support. Help us continue our work to safeguard Victoria’s environment and stop the coal industry’s dangerous expansion plans!

YES! I want to help kick Victoria’s dirty addiction to brown coal via a strong Price on Pollution.

Please accept my appeal donation of:

■■ $100 ■■ $250 ■■ $500 ■■ $1000 ■■ Other $ _______________

YES! I want to defend our voice to protect Victoria’s environment by becoming

a Green Action Partner. Please accept my ongoing monthly gift of:

■■ $30 ■■ $50 ■■ $100 ■■ Other $ _______________

I am already a committed Green Action Partner and want to increase my support

at this crucial time. ■■ Please upgrade my monthly donation by $_______/month.

Chief Executive OfficerKelly O’Shanassy

CAMPAIGNSCampaigns Director Mark Wakeham

Healthy Rivers Campaigner Juliet Le Feuvre

Healthy Rivers Campaigner Amelia Young

Safe Climate Campaigner Victoria McKenzie-McHarg

Safe Climate Campaigner Tricia Phelan

OPERATIONSOrganisational Services Manager Ivan Kolker

Administration Officer Alice Sainsbury

Communications Manager Vicki Kyriakakis

Communications Officer Sarah Dobney

Fundraising Manager Amber Sprunt

Finance Officer Despina Giannakis

Media Officer Louise Matthieson

Database Officer Tony Cox

SUSTAINABLE LIVING PROGRAMProject Manager Michele Burton

Project Manager Nina Bailey

Program Manager Charlie Davie

Project Officer Domenica Settle

BOARDPresident Russell Fisher

Vice-President Elizabeth McKinnon

Sue NoyAmanda NuttallJames MeldrumRobyn MurphySimone ZmoodJeana VithoulkasHugh Wareham

REGULAR VOLUNTEERSPaul BateyPeter FlanaganJanet GellieColleen GuggisbergIan HazewinkelPolly HughesLaura KnightLance LesselsCathryn RyanLes Smith

Talk to us:

Phone: (03) 9341 8100 Email:admin@environmentvictoria.org.auFax: (03) 9341 8199

PO Box 12575A’Beckett Street, Victoria, 8006

www.environmentvictoria.org.au

N O T I C E T H I S !

WHO’SWHO AT

Free Repair WorkshopsUnsure what to do with that broken stereo? Given up on those one-armed sunglasses or conked-out iPod? It’s time to clean out the cupboards, get creative and do your bit for the environment at the same time!

The Repair Workshops is a creative, interactive exploration of thepower of repair. Guided by professional artists, designers and engineers, yourbroken items will get repaired or – if they can’t be fixed – completelyreimagined! So get on board and register for a FREE repair session at theexciting Repair Workshops.

When > Saturday, 30 July – Sunday, 31 July 2011Opening times > 10.00 am – 5.00pmWhere > Basement of Donkeywheel House, 673 Bourke Street, Melbourne

Cost > FREE!Register here to repair > www.therepairworkshops.com

AND THAT’S NOT ALL! The Repair Workshopgeniuses have already saved mountains of broken objectsfrom landfill and will be repairing and reimagining them inthe lead-up to the workshops. They’ll be auctioning offthese fabulous creations during the festival, with allproceeds going to Environment Victoria! So get along,check out the treasures and do something great for theenvironment at the same time.

The Repair Workshops