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Green Left – Editorial: Editorial: Rudd’s first year: style over substance

Rudd’s first year: style over substance Green Left 23 November 2008 The first 12 months of Kevin Rudd’s federal Labor government have proved to be a continuation of the conservative, pro-war and anti-environmental politics of the Howard years.

The major difference between the two governments has been a difference in style rather than substance.

The previous government of John Howard stands condemned for refusing to recognise the threat of climate change or take any steps to limit Australia’s greenhouse emissions…………………………The racist intervention into the Northern Territory initiated under Howard has continued.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Aboriginal land rights and Aboriginal control over their own affairs have always been especially opposed by the mining and pastoral industries — two powerful players in Australia’s unsustainable economy.

The NT intervention was conceived under Howard to undermine the past gains of the Aboriginal rights movement in these areas while simultaneously shifting blame for ongoing poverty onto Aboriginal people themselves.

Rudd’s continuation of the intervention, albeit with minor adjustments, signals that the ALP is willing to finish the job that Howard started.

Under Rudd, dealing with climate change is a stated government priority. But Rudd’s actual policies are dangerously inadequate to meet the climate emergency we face…………………………No widespread shift to renewable energy use is underway, or has even been conceived. No moves to rapidly expand public transport have been made. No legislation mandating drastic improvements in energy efficiency for industry or agriculture has been drafted.

The priority has been given to discredited market-driven emissions schemes and non-existent technologies like so-called clean coal. Emission reduction targets have been set at hazardously low levels in accordance with what big business will accept. The latest alarming climate science has been studiously ignored.

Green Left – Editorial: Editorial: Rudd’s first year: style over substance

Tags: globalwarming, climate change, nuclear, antinuclear, uranium, radiation

November 23, 2008 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized