Compare and contrast election promises with Envirotracker

Environment Victoria today released Envirotracker, a free online resource which outlines the environment and climate change policies of the three main parties contesting the 2013 federal election - the ALP, the Coalition and the Greens. According to Environment Victoria CEO Kelly O’Shanassy, this is the first time such an analysis has been conducted on environmental policies in Australia.

O’Shanassy explained that Environment Victoria has been compiling the document for a while now, originally summarising policy platforms and on-the-record policy statements that have been made by the major parties over the past two years. As more formal environment policies are launched throughout the campaign, the analysis will be updated.

Although Environment Victoria is a state group, “A lot of critical issues in Victoria are affected by the federal government,” said O’Shanassy. She said the state has been a supporter of the carbon price, given that it is home to some big polluters, so the outcome of the election could have a significant impact.

Environment Victoria Campaigns Director Mark Wakeham listed some of the major environmental issues to be decided at the election: “Whether polluters have to pay to pollute, or alternatively whether taxpayers pay them to reduce their pollution … whether there is a $10 billion fund for renewable energy projects or not …  whether environment laws are strengthened or weakened, and whether the federal government hands over environmental approvals to state governments, who have a poor track record of environmental protection.

“Arguably, there’s never been a more important election for the environment.”

But despite Environment Victoria’s advocacy for the environment, O’Shanassy says the analysis is non-partisan, dealing only in written facts. Wakeham added, “Environment Victoria never tells Victorians how to vote, but we do want people to be informed about the environment and climate policies of all parties before election day.”

The resource is available to all Australians - O’Shanassy says it has already been sent to Environment Victoria’s equivalent organisations in every state, who will in turn pass it on to their supporters. It can also be viewed at http://environmentvictoria.org.au/envirotracker, where you can view a weekly ‘snapshot’, sign up to receive an election-eve update or download the full analysis as it stands at any time.