{"id":33447,"date":"2016-06-09T14:53:13","date_gmt":"2016-06-09T04:53:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nofibs.com.au\/?p=33447"},"modified":"2022-05-02T11:49:16","modified_gmt":"2022-05-02T01:49:16","slug":"taking-the-100pc-renewables-message-to-turnbullmalcolm-in-wentworth-for-ausvotes-takvera","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/taking-the-100pc-renewables-message-to-turnbullmalcolm-in-wentworth-for-ausvotes-takvera\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking the 100pc #renewables message to @TurnbullMalcolm in Wentworth for #ausvotes – @takvera"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Wentworth

Wentworth electorate: Solar Citizens 100 percent is doable forum<\/p><\/div>\nThe Prime Minister’s electorate of Wentworth in Sydney played host to a Solar Citizens<\/a> forum at Paddington Town Hall: the Wentworth 100 percent renewables forum. Former MP for Wentworth John Hewson turned up and gave the keynote address.<\/p>\n

Wentworth is one of the wealthiest electorates in Australia, but it also has the second lowest uptake of solar PV in Australia.<\/p>\n

The Paddington Town Hall was used for the forum and had a packed audience. Though Malcolm Turnbull, the member for Wentworth, couldn’t make it, the organisers kept a chair vacant on stage with his name on it.<\/p>\n

The Prime Minister was invited to a peoples forum up in Brisbane with Bill Shorten<\/a>, but declined. Instead he appeared on the ABC 7.30 Report interviewed by Leigh Sales<\/a>, that proved to be a bit of a trainwreck. He probably would have been far better attending the Paddington Town Hall meeting.<\/p>\n

It was appropriate that John Hewson was the keynote speaker as he was the former member for Wentworth and was parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party at the 1993 election. He took to the election a radical economic reform plan called ‘Fightback’ which included a 15 percent GST, and which resulted in the defeat of the coalition parties. The Liberal Party, at the time, had a very progressive environment and climate policy which was overshadowed by the Fightback policy.<\/p>\n

Hewson’s talk contained some humour while also strongly articulating the need for businesses to take up the massive opportunities in renewables and transition to low carbon economy. There was some political insight and commentary, but the main focus was on the need for bipartisan policies in transitioning to a zero carbon economy through renewables. <\/p>\n

“I must say I have been particularly frustrated by what has been a very painful process with the response of this country to climate change and to the development of an effective solution in terms of renewables.” Hewson said. “We have lost about 30 years in responding to climate change.” <\/p>\n

Hewson also outlined his latest business venture: Solastor – a $1.2 billion proposal for a modular baseload solar thermal power station near Port Augusta. The first stage would be a power station generating 110Mw in Winter, 170Mw in Summer. He was pleased to say the proposal launch had bipartisan support from both Liberal and Labor. RenewEconomy<\/i> reported on the launch: Hewson\u2019s Solastor promises world\u2019s cheapest 24\/7 solar power<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“I think we are at the beginning of what will be a renewables revolution in this country.” concluded John Hewson.<\/p>\n

Beside John Hewson, Nicky Ison and Miriam Lyons presented GetUp! and Solar Citizen’s Homegrown Power Plan<\/a>, which shows how Australia can transition and repower homes and businesses with 100% renewable power by 2030. Nicky Ison told the crowd that “We need all parties to commit to a just transition to clean energy” and “we need to change the rules of the games so solar is fair and accessible for everyone”.<\/p>\n

“In a 100 percent renewables future – there is no place for the fossil fuel industry” said Miriam Lyons, to strong audience applause. “We want to see a planned and orderly transition that looks after workers on the way. We need to prune out the dead wood for new shoots to grow\u2026and the owners of existing [power] plants know this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Claire O’Rourke from Solar Citizens emphasised that renewable energy target needs to be 100 percent by 2030, and that there is a jobs and growth bonanza if we do aim for this target. But the target also needs bipartisan support. She highlighted that “ARENA is looking to have 1 billion dollars cut from its budget.”, with cries of “Shame!” from the audience.<\/p>\n

The forum also heard from Evan Hughes, the Labor candidate, and Dejay Toborek, the Greens’ candidate for the Wentworth electorate. Solar Citizens have produced a scorecard rating party support for solar for Wentworth<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Michael Dillon, an engineering student and member of AYCC wrapped up the event.<\/p>\n

Watch the event recorded by Solar Citizens:<\/p>\n