Greens peddle inner-city bike superlane to cycling commuters

A bike superlane stretching 17 kilometres from Elsternwick Station to Bell Street, Coburg forms the centrepiece of the Greens' $250 million vision for a Melbourne bike network.

Cyclists navigate busy traffic.

The Victorian Greens are pitching this multi-lane, separated bike route , which would run along St Kilda Road, Royal Parade and Sydney Road, to inner-city cycling commuters in seats the party hopes to win in the state election - the Labor marginals of Albert Park and Brunswick and the Greens-held seat of Melbourne.

If they win balance of power in the lower house, the Greens will demand the next Victorian government spends $250 million on a series of new or upgraded bike paths built within four years.

It's part of a multi-pronged cycling announcement that would see Melbourne's bike share scheme expanded, bike safety laws passed and bike education rolled out in schools.

Read the story from The Age by Timna Jacks - “Greens peddle inner-city bike superlane to cycling commuters.”

(Human-powered transport is inevitable in a climate changed and energy scarce future and so the Greens’ bike “superlane” is to be applauded - Robert McLean)

Coalition wants to boost emissions reduction fund – but what did voters get for $2.3bn?

With Scott Morrison’s new environment minister, Melissa Price, flagging a boost in support for the emissions reduction fund – the centrepiece of the Coalition’s much-derided Direct Action climate policy – it is worth revisiting just what taxpayers have pocketed for the $2.3bn that has been spent on their behalf.

The new environment minister, Melissa Price, wants to push
 for increased funding for the emissions reduction fund.

The summarised view among those who have looked into the scheme ranges from “difficult to know” to “not much we wouldn’t have had anyway”.

Designed by the then environment minister, Greg Hunt, to fit the needs of the former prime minister Tony Abbott, the emissions reduction fund pays farmers and businesses to cut carbon dioxide pollution to below what it would otherwise be. It works as a reverse auction: bidders nominate how cheaply they think they can deliver reductions and what are assessed as the cheapest viable projects win contracts. The government buys carbon credits from the successful projects once the cuts are verified.

Read the story from The Guardian by Adam Morton - “Coalition wants to boost emissions reduction fund – but what did voters get for $2.3bn?”

‘Detrimental': government pressured to compromise on energy plan.

The federal government must overhaul its centrepiece power policy or suffer defeat at a crucial meeting with states and territories, the ACT government has signalled after a report found the package risked driving up electricity prices and may not reduce the chance of blackouts.

Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg is on Wednesday
expected to urge the states to adopt the national energy guarantee.

Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg is due to address the National Press Club on Wednesday, when he is expected to issue a rallying cry to states and territories to sign up to the national energy guarantee and end the ideological stalemate that has paralysed Australia's climate policy for more than a decade.

But the ACT government – geographically Australia’s smallest jurisdiction – has received expert advice that cast serious doubt on aspects of the package, and on Tuesday warned it will not back a plan that is “detrimental” to its constituents.

The Turnbull government needs unanimous support to change electricity laws at a Council of Australian Governments’ energy ministers meeting in Melbourne next week.

Read Nicole Hasham’s story from The Age - “‘Detrimental': government pressured to compromise on energy plan.”