Bowral students and their supporters will join hundreds of young people striking across Australia tomorrow to protest government plans to expand the gas industry in a bid to revitalise the economy.
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Students here in the Southern Highlands, local organiser Jill Cockram said, want Prime Minister Scott Morrison to spend economic stimulus money on renewable energy, creating thousands of jobs that would also help tackle climate change, rather than propping up the failing gas industry that puts our climate and economy at risk.
The September 25th: #FundOurFutureNotGas protest will take place in Corbett Gardens, Bowral, from 10.30am to noon. Moss Vale Community Garden members will stand outside their solar-powered garden shed (9-13 Railway Street, Moss Vale) to show their support from noon to 1pm.
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Mr Morrison believes liquefied natural gas (LNG) is vital to revitalising the Australian economy after the COVID recession. Last year, Australia was the world's largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, worth $49 billion. The Prime Minister intends to open five new gas fields and pipelines, and a controversial gas-fired power plant in the Hunter Valley that could be built at taxpayer expense.
"We'll work with industry to deliver a gas hub for Australia that will ensure households and businesses enjoy the benefits of our abundant local gas while we hold our position as one of the top global liquefied natural gas exporters," Mr Morrison said.
Many, however, oppose the move, including former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and former Liberal leader Dr. John Hewson.
Opponents argue that the gas expansion locks Australia into a fossil fuel that could be obsolete within 15 years; they worry that the LNG industry will increase greenhouse gas emissions; and they argue that Australia should focus instead on clean energy.
Leaked documents from the National COVID-19 Co-ordination Commission, Ms Cockram said, reveal that Morrison is considering giving billions of Covid-19 recovery funds to the gas industry.
The draft plan, the ABC revealed earlier in the year, called for massive gas subsidies and public investment; reduced 'green and red tape' on gas development (including relaxing Australian standards for gas infrastructure equipment, and loosening environmental regulations and approval processes); and an end to all fracking moratoria in NSW and Victoria. The Commission has several members with deep links to the gas industry.
"Giving billions of taxpayer dollars to the polluting gas industry is clearly an irresponsible use of public funds," Ms Cockram said. "The Commission is stacked with gas executives. Of course they're trying to convince Scott Morrison to give billions of taxpayer dollars to their own industry. It's appalling."
The school strikers will demand that no public funds be spent on gas or other damaging fossil fuels. Instead, they believe recovery funds should be spent on:
- Resourcing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led solutions that guarantee land rights and care for country,
- Creating jobs that fast track solutions to the climate crisis and help communities recover,
- Projects that transition our economy and communities to 100% renewable energy by 2030, through expanded public ownership.
Organisers believe the September 25th: #FundOurFutureNotGas event will be Australia's biggest-ever national day of action against gas. More than 400 strikes and rallies will take place throughout the country, following last year's school strikes against climate change.
The day is organised by the School Strike 4 Climate network, as well as First Nations communities, unions, and everyday Australians.
Unions representing more than one million workers have endorsed the day of action, including the United Workers Union (who cover many gas workers), the Maritime Union of Australia (who represent offshore gas workers), and the Australian Nurses and Midwives Association (the biggest union in Australia).
For more information, visit the National Day of Action website: ss4c.info/sept25
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