Australia's Conservative party presents shadow green budget

17 Apr 2009

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Ahead of the Brown governments' budget next week speculation about green measures that may be introduced is on the rise in Britain. Given the prime ministers pronouncements over the last few weeks, is expected to be more than environment friendly. It is increasingly being seen as the last chance for the government to initiate investment needed to meet the UK's targets for emission cuts and move towards a low-carbon economy by Conservatives.

Though the prime minister will present the budget in the British parliament next week, the Conservative party launched its own green budget on Thursday with shadow chancellor George Osborne and shadow energy secretary Greg Clark calling on the government to invest in 10 ideas that would cut carbon emissions and also create thousands of new ''green'' jobs.

Osborne said the budget was not just an opportunity to help people now, it was also a change to chart a new course for the future. He added that what would be needed in next week's budget are not policies that help today but also help tomorrow.

The ideas in the green shadow budge include a £6,500 allowance for every householder in Britain to make their homes energy efficient and optimising the use of sources of renewable energy including wave power, tidal power and biogas. Other initiatives the Tories outline in their budget include building an ''internet'' for electricity using smart grids that would that would allow an environment friendly and intelligent management of demand and supply. They have called on the government to fund a minimum of three carbon capture and storage demonstration plants. Also included in the initiatives is a high-speed rail network to take pressure off internal flights.

Osborne pointed out that it was time the government decided what kind of recover it was planning. He said the Tory plan which is ''greener and more productive'' would generate scores of new jobs besides spurring growth in industries of the future.

He said a Conservative government would also implement a pilot scheme to introduce carbon capture at power stations.

He urged the government to consider introduction of ''feed-in-tariffs'' to enable people to generate their own electricity with renewable sources and sell it to the national grid.

He added that the policies would boost the economy by incentivising companies and individuals to build the future and also most importantly would not rack up debts.

Replying to Osborne, transport secretary Geoff Hoon wondered if George Osborne, given commitment to a stronger, greener future for British business would help people with up to £5,000 buy electric vehicles and match the £250 million commitment of the labour government.

He added that Osborne had said the plan needed to be taken ''with a pinch of salt''.

The climate change and energy secretary, Ed Miliband, said that the Tory promises were a sham and their promise of £6,500 for every household would cost at least £150 billion and they had no idea how it would be paid for. They don't have the money for their clean coal pledge he said.

He said that Tory ideas are just pale shadows of the labour government's commitments including smart meters and feed-in tariffs to support low-carbon industries. He added that the Tories want to cut public expenditure but their proposals incorporate public spending plans. He said that the government was committed to real- time action to tackle dangerous climate change and creation of new jobs.

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