Australian
Monday 6/11/2006, Page: 6
STEVE Bracks has launched a fresh attack on the Greens, accusing the minor party of lukewarm support for wind farms, a position he said was "ridiculous". The Premier accused the Greens of trying to impose onerous "deep-green" requirements on drought relief payments to farmers and of stifling the development of water resources.
His criticisms came despite Labor giving indications it would allocate preferences in the November 25 state election to the Greens ahead of the Family First party. Announcing plans to offer a $1000 rebate to households that connected water tanks to their laundries and toilets, Mr Bracks sought to contrast Labor's environmental credentials with those of the Greens.
The Greens are campaigning to stop the Bald Hills wind farm in the seat of Gippsland South, saying that while renewable energy projects were preferable to coal and nuclear power, they should be appropriately located.
Greens candidate Jackie Dargaville, who is contesting the seat held by Nationals leader Peter Ryan, has said that in coastal areas with tourism potential, wind farming is not necessarily the way to go unless that's what the community wants".
Mr Bracks criticised the position, saying: "The reality is that one of the ways we're going to reduce greenhouse gas is to have wind power, alongside hydro, solar. .. and clean coal. The Greens' perceived opposition to wind power is a wrong call, and it's rejected by the wider environmental movement."
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