Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Don't like the answer? Don't ask the question
The taskforce researched the science, asked expert and councillor opinion and consulted with the public.
It is chaired by Ian Lowe, emeritus professor of science, technology and society at Griffith University in Brisbane and President of the Australian Conservation Foundation; never one to espouse the ‘business as usual’ model.
There has been a few leaks, but the report’s recommendations were never going to stray far from pressing the need for smart growth, reducing energy consumption from fossil fuels and to stymie rapid growth in private car-use.
Indeed, an early draft of the report, presented to Cabinet on 5th February recommended that some (20%) CBD roads be closed to private through-traffic. This was helpfully reported in The Courier-Mail with the headline "City streets to shut".
As expected, both Labour and Liberal politicians clambered over each other to distance themselves from the report and paint themselves as best friends of the motorist.
A second leak from another Cabinet report revealed a whole raft of measures, all of which would require regulation and active government in public policy. Of course this all goes against current political trend of cutting red tape and allowing consumers and business to pollute with impunity.
The report recommends:
These are things politicians don’t want to hear. Telling people they cannot do something or must do something else is taboo in this political climate, regardless of the consequences.
Political reaction was as revealing as it was predictable. The Lord Mayor was ‘alarmed’ by the draft report. Not by what the science said mind you (as he is a self-confessed ‘climate change convert’), but by the extent of the policy recommendations.
Liberal Councillor David McLachlan described the draft as an "unacceptable impost on the way people live their lives" and would cost billions to implement. Again, our good Councillor is either demonstrating considerable intellectual obstinacy or he is being disingenuous with his electorate.
He should be disagreeing with the science, not the recommendations. At best he should be stating what level of global warming he is willing to accept in return for keeping his current lifestyle. Brisbane residents cannot continue on the current path, without facing the consequences.
The Labor caucus has been similarly dishonest. Leader David Hinchliffe labelled some of the recommendations as "loopy".
Our civic / political culture has been crippled by a pervasive have-it-all consumer culture. Voters are no longer citizens but ‘customers’. As such, government must give them all they demand and only an expanding GDP can deliver it.
Under no circumstances must customers be asked to adjudicate between competing priorities; to assess those nasty either/or questions.
Cabinet will consider the Climate Change and Energy taskforce report as a final draft on 12th March. It will decide whether the $70,000 report will be published for the ratepayers of Brisbane or – more likely – that the recommendations are so politically unpalatable the report will be kept secret.
But surely, it was clear that the taskforce was going to advocate some significant departures from the status quo and the curtailment of our current energy- and transport-rich lives. And as such, the report was going to be politically unacceptable. I doubt it will never ever see the light of day. Public money will have been wasted. The public interest will have been undermined.
If you don’t like the answer, really, you shouldn’t ask the question.
Don't like the answer? Don't ask the question
Posted by Living with Matilda at 12:55 PM
The taskforce researched the science, asked expert and councillor opinion and consulted with the public.
It is chaired by Ian Lowe, emeritus professor of science, technology and society at Griffith University in Brisbane and President of the Australian Conservation Foundation; never one to espouse the ‘business as usual’ model.
There has been a few leaks, but the report’s recommendations were never going to stray far from pressing the need for smart growth, reducing energy consumption from fossil fuels and to stymie rapid growth in private car-use.
Indeed, an early draft of the report, presented to Cabinet on 5th February recommended that some (20%) CBD roads be closed to private through-traffic. This was helpfully reported in The Courier-Mail with the headline "City streets to shut".
As expected, both Labour and Liberal politicians clambered over each other to distance themselves from the report and paint themselves as best friends of the motorist.
A second leak from another Cabinet report revealed a whole raft of measures, all of which would require regulation and active government in public policy. Of course this all goes against current political trend of cutting red tape and allowing consumers and business to pollute with impunity.
The report recommends:
- Council becoming carbon-neutral
- mandatory rainwater tanks
- banning additional private swimming pools
- only one airconditioning unit per dwelling
- more bus lands to be added each year
- wind turbines atop CBD buildings
These are things politicians don’t want to hear. Telling people they cannot do something or must do something else is taboo in this political climate, regardless of the consequences.
Political reaction was as revealing as it was predictable. The Lord Mayor was ‘alarmed’ by the draft report. Not by what the science said mind you (as he is a self-confessed ‘climate change convert’), but by the extent of the policy recommendations.
Liberal Councillor David McLachlan described the draft as an "unacceptable impost on the way people live their lives" and would cost billions to implement. Again, our good Councillor is either demonstrating considerable intellectual obstinacy or he is being disingenuous with his electorate.
He should be disagreeing with the science, not the recommendations. At best he should be stating what level of global warming he is willing to accept in return for keeping his current lifestyle. Brisbane residents cannot continue on the current path, without facing the consequences.
The Labor caucus has been similarly dishonest. Leader David Hinchliffe labelled some of the recommendations as "loopy".
Our civic / political culture has been crippled by a pervasive have-it-all consumer culture. Voters are no longer citizens but ‘customers’. As such, government must give them all they demand and only an expanding GDP can deliver it.
Under no circumstances must customers be asked to adjudicate between competing priorities; to assess those nasty either/or questions.
Cabinet will consider the Climate Change and Energy taskforce report as a final draft on 12th March. It will decide whether the $70,000 report will be published for the ratepayers of Brisbane or – more likely – that the recommendations are so politically unpalatable the report will be kept secret.
But surely, it was clear that the taskforce was going to advocate some significant departures from the status quo and the curtailment of our current energy- and transport-rich lives. And as such, the report was going to be politically unacceptable. I doubt it will never ever see the light of day. Public money will have been wasted. The public interest will have been undermined.
If you don’t like the answer, really, you shouldn’t ask the question.
Labels: Brisbane City Council, Sustainability
Posted by Living with Matilda at 12:55 PM
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| I am employed by Brisbane City Council. All views expressed in this blog are my own and in no way reflect the views of my employer. |
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