Burnie Advocate
25/08/2006 Page: 16
THE Federal Government should get off its coalfired backside and commit seriously to the development of renewable energy.
The situation at Wynyard serves only to underline how fragile this fledgling industry is at present. Wind energy is just one of the options available to us, but it is an important one. The challenge facing the ethanol industry is an example of how hard it can be for new sources to get traction on the Australian landscape.
No doubt the power of the oil companies and value of coal to the national economy plays on the minds of those sitting around the Cabinet table. However, we can have both running in tandem. Wind is important to Tasmania long a leader in the hydrogeneration field.
Not only is it a direct economic driver through money and jobs, but its tourism potential can be enormous. Today would be an opportune time for our Prime Minister, John Howard, to show some leadership on this front. It would be a boon for the NorthWest and West Coasts of Tasmania and a well deserved boon at that.
And if today's trip is all about hot air, it would be good to have a strong wind industry to capitalise on that.
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