February 1 was the day of the most vibrant climate rally seen in Melbourne for some time, with nearly 500 protesters overflowing from the steps of the state parliament house to call on the federal and state governments to revoke their funding of HRL, Victoria’s proposed new coal-fired power plant.
The rally, called by grassroots climate collective Quit Coal, was held principally to influence the federal government, which is currently reviewing HRL’s Howard-era $100 million grant.
Rally speakers, which included federal Greens MP Adam Bandt, highlighted how five years after receiving this grant, HRL has failed to meet any of its conditions or attract any private investment to the project.
Bandt also noted the strong level of community support for government funding being used to fund renewable energy technology development and deployment, and called for HRL’s funding to be diverted to the true solutions to climate change and a carbon-free energy future.
HRL has been dogged by controversy ever since the John Howard government first awarded its $100 million grant back in 2007. It has been the focus of a strong community and NGO campaign for more than a year and a half.
Alarmed at the implications of government-funded fossil fuel infrastructure in the context of climate change, almost 4000 Victorians entered submissions calling for the Environmental Protection Agency to reject HRL. The issue also received substantial media attention following an occupation of the state treasury building by Quit Coal in February last year.
The government’s decision on HRL is due this month, and most insiders believe there is a good chance that the community campaign will succeed and HRL’s funding will be revoked.
But whether this transpires or not, Quit Coal pledges that it will continue the urgent fight all coal industry expansion in Victoria. As leading US climate scientist James Hansen has said, coal is “the single greatest threat to our civilization and all of life on our planet”.
Quit Coal believes that it is up to all of us to stand up to this threat, and to win.
[Paul Connor is a Quit Coal activist. More information about Quit Coal campaigns is available at its website.]