Glad to see island reap the wind

Sunday Tasmanian
24 July 2011, Page: 3

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard made a whirlwind trip to King Island yesterday to explore renewable energy systems before landing in Hobart for forestry talks with Premier Lara Giddings. The residents of the Bass Strait island were the first in the state to discuss with the Prime Minister her plans to put a tax on carbon. Ms Gillard said the remote island provided successful examples of how renewable energy could be used into the future.

"What we want to see is less carbon pollution", she said. "What we want to see is a clean energy future and putting a price on carbon pollution will drive new investments and new opportunities in that clean energy future. "The island was originally powered by 100% diesel and they've taken steps over time to harness the abundant wind and the solar power that falls on the island, so now 40% of the power used is generated by renewables. "It's this kind of movement to clean energy sources that putting a price on carbon is all about".

There are plans on King Island to take further steps to increase its clean energy mix, moving to 60% or 70% King Island Mayor Charles Arnold said the Prime Minister was impressed with the region's established renewable energy systems. Ms Gillard is only the second prime minister to visit King Island and the first in more than 50 years. Then prime minister Robert Menzies visited the island in 1961. Ms Gillard spent about two hours on the island and shared breakfast with people from the community.

Melanie Graham questioned the Prime Minister about the rising costs of living. Ms Gi Bard said that was why she was out and about talking to Australians about putting a price on carbon pollution, to answer questions and relieve uncertainty. "Economists have told us and told us consistently that putting a price on carbon pollution, to be paid by the biggest polluters, is the most efficient way of cutting carbon pollution and creating a clean energy future", she said.