5 November 2007 GREENS LAUNCH EDEN-MONARO CAMPAIGN IN QUEANBEYAN

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today launched the Queanbeyan Greens campaign for the seat of Eden-Monaro.

The Greens used the event to highlight the issue of climate change and how good public transport systems can help combat it.

Speaking at the Queanbeyan Railway Station, Senator Nettle said that Australia must face the looming realities of oil depletion and global warming, which make our present dependence on the car and lack of public transport unsustainable.

Greens candidate for Eden-Monaro, Keith Hughes said that of all the greenhouse gas emissions created by Australian transport, 90% are attributable to road transport, compared to only 2% by rail transport.

“I am always saddened to see the remnants of the old railway line across parts of the Monaro and am still not ready to give up a dream of seeing rail restored,” he said.

“We will soon have to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, whether we like it or not,” he said.

Senator Nettle said it will be important to have Greens representatives in the Senate to ensure that the inevitable restructure of Australia’s transport system will take account of principles of ecological sustainability, equity of access and public ownership of critical public infrastructure.

“The Greens are strongly committed to fair outcomes for regional and rural Australia and we will aim to use our position in the Senate to make sure this happens,” she said.

Senator Nettle said that a freeway lane carries around 1,200 cars (or 1,500 people) per hour. A railway line can carry at least 20,000 people (the equivalent of 16,000 cars) per hour.

“Well designed public transport system, especially rail is safer, reduces road congestion, noise costs and road damage,” she said.

Mr Hughes said that each fully laden freight train can take 150 semi-trailers off the roads.

“We must start planning for the challenges of oil depletion and global warming,” he said.