Carbon budget blowout

Two protesters abseiled from the front of parliament house on May 13 in a dramatic protest against the federal government's policies on climate change.

The two activists unfurled a banner reading "Carbon budget blowout" across the parliament house facade. A further nine protesters were ejected from the parliament house foyer. Two of the protesters interrupted Treasurer Wayne Swan's post budget speech to denounce the government's failure to deliver a climate-friendly budget.

The protest was organised by Newcastle-based climate action group Rising Tide. Rising Tide's Jonathan Moylan told Green Left Weekly the action was designed to expose the government's failure to tackle dangerous climate change.

"The federal budget, which has thrown billions more into the laps of heavy polluting industries, is a black hole and a missed opportunity" he said.
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"The government is ignoring climate change at its own peril. It's time to put the environmental rights of all people and all generations ahead of the interests of big corporations."

On May 8, Rising Tide targeted the office of federal climate change secretary Greg Combet in Cardiff, Newcastle. The activists painted black fingerprints on the office doors to symbolise the influence of the "greenhouse mafia" over the Rudd government.

Moylan said: "The government's carbon pollution trading scheme is covered with the dirty fingerprints of the coal, aluminum and cement industries."

The protesters denounced the Rudd government's planned emissions trading scheme.

"Instead of focusing on prolonging polluting industries with free permits and cash hand-outs, the government needs to provide structural readjustment, and facilitate a transition for workers and communities into sustainable industries", said Moylan.

From GLW issue 796