12 November 2007
Merimbula News Weekly:  question - petrol prices and the state of the roads are two major concerns for voters in Eden-Monaro. What is

your solution? 350 words

The ideal Greens world would have a cheap, efficient public transport system, safe roads used by fuel efficient cars. There would be fully integrated planning and transport.

Safety is a real issue in road planning and maintenance, and deserves a more strategic approach than ad hoc pork barreling from politicians at election time.

Only 3 out of the 29 OECD countries have cheaper petrol than Australia. These are USA, Canada and Mexico.

In the country we don’t have the same public transport options as city dwellers, so we are more conscious of petrol prices. Nevertheless, we too must urgently reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

Australia must face the looming realities of oil depletion and global warming. Change is on the way whether we like it or not.

As part of this, The Greens support enforceable fuel efficiency standards for new cars by 2010 and mandatory efficiency labeling of new vehicles.

One factor is particularly important to our region: 160 log trucks every day take loads to the Eden woodchip mill.

Log trucks carry dangerous loads and do major damage to our roads; they are a significant traffic hazard to tourists and residents alike. These trucks travel more than 14.5 million truck kilometres every year and generate more than 2 million tonnes of greenhouses gasses. An end to woodchipping would have obvious benefits to our roads, traffic safety as well as forests and wildlife.

Full cost recovery for heavy trucks would enable greater financial reimbursements to state and local governments for road upgrades and maintenance.

A high speed train link from Melbourne to Sydney via Canberra can decrease congestion and maintenance costs for regional roads and highways. Each fully laden freight train can take 150 semi-trailers off the roads.

Of all the greenhouse gas emissions created by Australian transport, 90% are attributable to road transport, compared to only 2% by rail transport.

Climate change presents a new imperative for us to look at new transport strategies.

We want fair outcomes for regional and rural Australia and will use our position in the Senate to make sure this happens.