❓ The WA government outlines initiatives to address climate change and peak oil in the transport sector, contrasting its actions with the perceived inaction of the federal government. Initiatives include investment in public transport, hydrogen fuel cell trials, and biodiesel trials.
AnsweredQoN 592Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CLIMATE CHANGE - PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Climate change and the peak oil theory are big issues facing the global community. In light of this, will the minister please tell the house the initiatives that Western Australia is taking to deliver a sustainable future for transport? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN
Climate change and the peak oil theory are big issues facing the global community. In light of this, will the minister please tell the house the initiatives that Western Australia is taking to deliver a sustainable future for transport? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for this question. We have touched upon it a few times today in other questions; and quite rightly, because this is such an important issue. I can assure the house that our government absolutely accepts the reality of the challenges that are posed to our civilisation and to our community. We accept that we must take action. I must say that it is in stark contrast to the federal government, which is still in a state of denial, with the Prime Minister saying that the price of oil will drop and we will all go back to those happy white-picket fence days. Yesterday there was an extraordinary performance by Ian Macfarlane. I thought that Doug Hinze had been sort of dug out - Mr M.W. Trenorden : Russ! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I thought that Russ Hinze had been dug out and brought back to participate in the Australian community again because of Ian Macfarlane’s response. This was a federal minister, asked about the issue of global warming, saying that it is just entertainment and that is really all it is. He said that it was all about non-fiction and that it was not correct. Mr Speaker, we have a serious challenge and I have to say that the WA government is taking a strong lead. We still have a way to go but we are certainly showing leadership. For example, we are investing heavily in public transport that will make our community less oil-dependent. We are the only jurisdiction in the Southern Hemisphere that has participated in the hydrogen fuel cell trial, and that has been very instrumental in helping companies such as DaimlerChrysler take this technology to its next stage. It is our government that has taken the initiative to trial biodiesel. We have 78 buses in - Several members interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : In fact, the Premier launched this. Seventy-eight buses in our bus fleet are undergoing a biodiesel trial. Mr B.J. Grylls interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : Interestingly, the bus broke down on the way to the conference that the Premier spoke about. Quite clearly, work is still to be done. There are quality issues associated with biofuels. It is very appropriate for this government to take that risk in buses that it owns. These buses are outside their warranty period; therefore, the government can properly and safely conduct that trial. The reality is that we have a huge challenge facing us in both peak oil and climate change. We can resolve these problems. The conference that is under way in Perth demonstrates the flowering of technological excellence. There are solutions and this government is prepared to embrace and implement those solutions.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for this question. We have touched upon it a few times today in other questions; and quite rightly, because this is such an important issue. I can assure the house that our government absolutely accepts the reality of the challenges that are posed to our civilisation and to our community. We accept that we must take action. I must say that it is in stark contrast to the federal government, which is still in a state of denial, with the Prime Minister saying that the price of oil will drop and we will all go back to those happy white-picket fence days. Yesterday there was an extraordinary performance by Ian Macfarlane. I thought that Doug Hinze had been sort of dug out - Mr M.W. Trenorden : Russ! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I thought that Russ Hinze had been dug out and brought back to participate in the Australian community again because of Ian Macfarlane’s response. This was a federal minister, asked about the issue of global warming, saying that it is just entertainment and that is really all it is. He said that it was all about non-fiction and that it was not correct. Mr Speaker, we have a serious challenge and I have to say that the WA government is taking a strong lead. We still have a way to go but we are certainly showing leadership. For example, we are investing heavily in public transport that will make our community less oil-dependent. We are the only jurisdiction in the Southern Hemisphere that has participated in the hydrogen fuel cell trial, and that has been very instrumental in helping companies such as DaimlerChrysler take this technology to its next stage. It is our government that has taken the initiative to trial biodiesel. We have 78 buses in - Several members interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : In fact, the Premier launched this. Seventy-eight buses in our bus fleet are undergoing a biodiesel trial. Mr B.J. Grylls interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : Interestingly, the bus broke down on the way to the conference that the Premier spoke about. Quite clearly, work is still to be done. There are quality issues associated with biofuels. It is very appropriate for this government to take that risk in buses that it owns. These buses are outside their warranty period; therefore, the government can properly and safely conduct that trial. The reality is that we have a huge challenge facing us in both peak oil and climate change. We can resolve these problems. The conference that is under way in Perth demonstrates the flowering of technological excellence. There are solutions and this government is prepared to embrace and implement those solutions.
I thank the member for this question. We have touched upon it a few times today in other questions; and quite rightly, because this is such an important issue. I can assure the house that our government absolutely accepts the reality of the challenges that are posed to our civilisation and to our community. We accept that we must take action. I must say that it is in stark contrast to the federal government, which is still in a state of denial, with the Prime Minister saying that the price of oil will drop and we will all go back to those happy white-picket fence days. Yesterday there was an extraordinary performance by Ian Macfarlane. I thought that Doug Hinze had been sort of dug out - Mr M.W. Trenorden : Russ! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I thought that Russ Hinze had been dug out and brought back to participate in the Australian community again because of Ian Macfarlane’s response. This was a federal minister, asked about the issue of global warming, saying that it is just entertainment and that is really all it is. He said that it was all about non-fiction and that it was not correct. Mr Speaker, we have a serious challenge and I have to say that the WA government is taking a strong lead. We still have a way to go but we are certainly showing leadership. For example, we are investing heavily in public transport that will make our community less oil-dependent. We are the only jurisdiction in the Southern Hemisphere that has participated in the hydrogen fuel cell trial, and that has been very instrumental in helping companies such as DaimlerChrysler take this technology to its next stage. It is our government that has taken the initiative to trial biodiesel. We have 78 buses in - Several members interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : In fact, the Premier launched this. Seventy-eight buses in our bus fleet are undergoing a biodiesel trial. Mr B.J. Grylls interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : Interestingly, the bus broke down on the way to the conference that the Premier spoke about. Quite clearly, work is still to be done. There are quality issues associated with biofuels. It is very appropriate for this government to take that risk in buses that it owns. These buses are outside their warranty period; therefore, the government can properly and safely conduct that trial. The reality is that we have a huge challenge facing us in both peak oil and climate change. We can resolve these problems. The conference that is under way in Perth demonstrates the flowering of technological excellence. There are solutions and this government is prepared to embrace and implement those solutions.
Mr M.W. Trenorden : Russ! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I thought that Russ Hinze had been dug out and brought back to participate in the Australian community again because of Ian Macfarlane’s response. This was a federal minister, asked about the issue of global warming, saying that it is just entertainment and that is really all it is. He said that it was all about non-fiction and that it was not correct. Mr Speaker, we have a serious challenge and I have to say that the WA government is taking a strong lead. We still have a way to go but we are certainly showing leadership. For example, we are investing heavily in public transport that will make our community less oil-dependent. We are the only jurisdiction in the Southern Hemisphere that has participated in the hydrogen fuel cell trial, and that has been very instrumental in helping companies such as DaimlerChrysler take this technology to its next stage. It is our government that has taken the initiative to trial biodiesel. We have 78 buses in - Several members interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : In fact, the Premier launched this. Seventy-eight buses in our bus fleet are undergoing a biodiesel trial. Mr B.J. Grylls interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : Interestingly, the bus broke down on the way to the conference that the Premier spoke about. Quite clearly, work is still to be done. There are quality issues associated with biofuels. It is very appropriate for this government to take that risk in buses that it owns. These buses are outside their warranty period; therefore, the government can properly and safely conduct that trial. The reality is that we have a huge challenge facing us in both peak oil and climate change. We can resolve these problems. The conference that is under way in Perth demonstrates the flowering of technological excellence. There are solutions and this government is prepared to embrace and implement those solutions.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I thought that Russ Hinze had been dug out and brought back to participate in the Australian community again because of Ian Macfarlane’s response. This was a federal minister, asked about the issue of global warming, saying that it is just entertainment and that is really all it is. He said that it was all about non-fiction and that it was not correct. Mr Speaker, we have a serious challenge and I have to say that the WA government is taking a strong lead. We still have a way to go but we are certainly showing leadership. For example, we are investing heavily in public transport that will make our community less oil-dependent. We are the only jurisdiction in the Southern Hemisphere that has participated in the hydrogen fuel cell trial, and that has been very instrumental in helping companies such as DaimlerChrysler take this technology to its next stage. It is our government that has taken the initiative to trial biodiesel. We have 78 buses in - Several members interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : In fact, the Premier launched this. Seventy-eight buses in our bus fleet are undergoing a biodiesel trial. Mr B.J. Grylls interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : Interestingly, the bus broke down on the way to the conference that the Premier spoke about. Quite clearly, work is still to be done. There are quality issues associated with biofuels. It is very appropriate for this government to take that risk in buses that it owns. These buses are outside their warranty period; therefore, the government can properly and safely conduct that trial. The reality is that we have a huge challenge facing us in both peak oil and climate change. We can resolve these problems. The conference that is under way in Perth demonstrates the flowering of technological excellence. There are solutions and this government is prepared to embrace and implement those solutions.
Mr Speaker, we have a serious challenge and I have to say that the WA government is taking a strong lead. We still have a way to go but we are certainly showing leadership. For example, we are investing heavily in public transport that will make our community less oil-dependent. We are the only jurisdiction in the Southern Hemisphere that has participated in the hydrogen fuel cell trial, and that has been very instrumental in helping companies such as DaimlerChrysler take this technology to its next stage. It is our government that has taken the initiative to trial biodiesel. We have 78 buses in - Several members interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : In fact, the Premier launched this. Seventy-eight buses in our bus fleet are undergoing a biodiesel trial. Mr B.J. Grylls interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : Interestingly, the bus broke down on the way to the conference that the Premier spoke about. Quite clearly, work is still to be done. There are quality issues associated with biofuels. It is very appropriate for this government to take that risk in buses that it owns. These buses are outside their warranty period; therefore, the government can properly and safely conduct that trial. The reality is that we have a huge challenge facing us in both peak oil and climate change. We can resolve these problems. The conference that is under way in Perth demonstrates the flowering of technological excellence. There are solutions and this government is prepared to embrace and implement those solutions.
Several members interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : In fact, the Premier launched this. Seventy-eight buses in our bus fleet are undergoing a biodiesel trial. Mr B.J. Grylls interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : Interestingly, the bus broke down on the way to the conference that the Premier spoke about. Quite clearly, work is still to be done. There are quality issues associated with biofuels. It is very appropriate for this government to take that risk in buses that it owns. These buses are outside their warranty period; therefore, the government can properly and safely conduct that trial. The reality is that we have a huge challenge facing us in both peak oil and climate change. We can resolve these problems. The conference that is under way in Perth demonstrates the flowering of technological excellence. There are solutions and this government is prepared to embrace and implement those solutions.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : In fact, the Premier launched this. Seventy-eight buses in our bus fleet are undergoing a biodiesel trial. Mr B.J. Grylls interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : Interestingly, the bus broke down on the way to the conference that the Premier spoke about. Quite clearly, work is still to be done. There are quality issues associated with biofuels. It is very appropriate for this government to take that risk in buses that it owns. These buses are outside their warranty period; therefore, the government can properly and safely conduct that trial. The reality is that we have a huge challenge facing us in both peak oil and climate change. We can resolve these problems. The conference that is under way in Perth demonstrates the flowering of technological excellence. There are solutions and this government is prepared to embrace and implement those solutions.
Mr B.J. Grylls interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : Interestingly, the bus broke down on the way to the conference that the Premier spoke about. Quite clearly, work is still to be done. There are quality issues associated with biofuels. It is very appropriate for this government to take that risk in buses that it owns. These buses are outside their warranty period; therefore, the government can properly and safely conduct that trial. The reality is that we have a huge challenge facing us in both peak oil and climate change. We can resolve these problems. The conference that is under way in Perth demonstrates the flowering of technological excellence. There are solutions and this government is prepared to embrace and implement those solutions.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : Interestingly, the bus broke down on the way to the conference that the Premier spoke about. Quite clearly, work is still to be done. There are quality issues associated with biofuels. It is very appropriate for this government to take that risk in buses that it owns. These buses are outside their warranty period; therefore, the government can properly and safely conduct that trial. The reality is that we have a huge challenge facing us in both peak oil and climate change. We can resolve these problems. The conference that is under way in Perth demonstrates the flowering of technological excellence. There are solutions and this government is prepared to embrace and implement those solutions.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for this question. We have touched upon it a few times today in other questions; and quite rightly, because this is such an important issue. I can assure the house that our government absolutely accepts the reality of the challenges that are posed to our civilisation and to our community. We accept that we must take action. I must say that it is in stark contrast to the federal government, which is still in a state of denial, with the Prime Minister saying that the price of oil will drop and we will all go back to those happy white-picket fence days. Yesterday there was an extraordinary performance by Ian Macfarlane. I thought that Doug Hinze had been sort of dug out - Mr M.W. Trenorden : Russ! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I thought that Russ Hinze had been dug out and brought back to participate in the Australian community again because of Ian Macfarlane’s response. This was a federal minister, asked about the issue of global warming, saying that it is just entertainment and that is really all it is. He said that it was all about non-fiction and that it was not correct. Mr Speaker, we have a serious challenge and I have to say that the WA government is taking a strong lead. We still have a way to go but we are certainly showing leadership. For example, we are investing heavily in public transport that will make our community less oil-dependent. We are the only jurisdiction in the Southern Hemisphere that has participated in the hydrogen fuel cell trial, and that has been very instrumental in helping companies such as DaimlerChrysler take this technology to its next stage. It is our government that has taken the initiative to trial biodiesel. We have 78 buses in - Several members interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : In fact, the Premier launched this. Seventy-eight buses in our bus fleet are undergoing a biodiesel trial. Mr B.J. Grylls interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : Interestingly, the bus broke down on the way to the conference that the Premier spoke about. Quite clearly, work is still to be done. There are quality issues associated with biofuels. It is very appropriate for this government to take that risk in buses that it owns. These buses are outside their warranty period; therefore, the government can properly and safely conduct that trial. The reality is that we have a huge challenge facing us in both peak oil and climate change. We can resolve these problems. The conference that is under way in Perth demonstrates the flowering of technological excellence. There are solutions and this government is prepared to embrace and implement those solutions.
I thank the member for this question. We have touched upon it a few times today in other questions; and quite rightly, because this is such an important issue. I can assure the house that our government absolutely accepts the reality of the challenges that are posed to our civilisation and to our community. We accept that we must take action. I must say that it is in stark contrast to the federal government, which is still in a state of denial, with the Prime Minister saying that the price of oil will drop and we will all go back to those happy white-picket fence days. Yesterday there was an extraordinary performance by Ian Macfarlane. I thought that Doug Hinze had been sort of dug out - Mr M.W. Trenorden : Russ! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I thought that Russ Hinze had been dug out and brought back to participate in the Australian community again because of Ian Macfarlane’s response. This was a federal minister, asked about the issue of global warming, saying that it is just entertainment and that is really all it is. He said that it was all about non-fiction and that it was not correct. Mr Speaker, we have a serious challenge and I have to say that the WA government is taking a strong lead. We still have a way to go but we are certainly showing leadership. For example, we are investing heavily in public transport that will make our community less oil-dependent. We are the only jurisdiction in the Southern Hemisphere that has participated in the hydrogen fuel cell trial, and that has been very instrumental in helping companies such as DaimlerChrysler take this technology to its next stage. It is our government that has taken the initiative to trial biodiesel. We have 78 buses in - Several members interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : In fact, the Premier launched this. Seventy-eight buses in our bus fleet are undergoing a biodiesel trial. Mr B.J. Grylls interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : Interestingly, the bus broke down on the way to the conference that the Premier spoke about. Quite clearly, work is still to be done. There are quality issues associated with biofuels. It is very appropriate for this government to take that risk in buses that it owns. These buses are outside their warranty period; therefore, the government can properly and safely conduct that trial. The reality is that we have a huge challenge facing us in both peak oil and climate change. We can resolve these problems. The conference that is under way in Perth demonstrates the flowering of technological excellence. There are solutions and this government is prepared to embrace and implement those solutions.
Mr M.W. Trenorden : Russ! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I thought that Russ Hinze had been dug out and brought back to participate in the Australian community again because of Ian Macfarlane’s response. This was a federal minister, asked about the issue of global warming, saying that it is just entertainment and that is really all it is. He said that it was all about non-fiction and that it was not correct. Mr Speaker, we have a serious challenge and I have to say that the WA government is taking a strong lead. We still have a way to go but we are certainly showing leadership. For example, we are investing heavily in public transport that will make our community less oil-dependent. We are the only jurisdiction in the Southern Hemisphere that has participated in the hydrogen fuel cell trial, and that has been very instrumental in helping companies such as DaimlerChrysler take this technology to its next stage. It is our government that has taken the initiative to trial biodiesel. We have 78 buses in - Several members interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : In fact, the Premier launched this. Seventy-eight buses in our bus fleet are undergoing a biodiesel trial. Mr B.J. Grylls interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : Interestingly, the bus broke down on the way to the conference that the Premier spoke about. Quite clearly, work is still to be done. There are quality issues associated with biofuels. It is very appropriate for this government to take that risk in buses that it owns. These buses are outside their warranty period; therefore, the government can properly and safely conduct that trial. The reality is that we have a huge challenge facing us in both peak oil and climate change. We can resolve these problems. The conference that is under way in Perth demonstrates the flowering of technological excellence. There are solutions and this government is prepared to embrace and implement those solutions.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I thought that Russ Hinze had been dug out and brought back to participate in the Australian community again because of Ian Macfarlane’s response. This was a federal minister, asked about the issue of global warming, saying that it is just entertainment and that is really all it is. He said that it was all about non-fiction and that it was not correct. Mr Speaker, we have a serious challenge and I have to say that the WA government is taking a strong lead. We still have a way to go but we are certainly showing leadership. For example, we are investing heavily in public transport that will make our community less oil-dependent. We are the only jurisdiction in the Southern Hemisphere that has participated in the hydrogen fuel cell trial, and that has been very instrumental in helping companies such as DaimlerChrysler take this technology to its next stage. It is our government that has taken the initiative to trial biodiesel. We have 78 buses in - Several members interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : In fact, the Premier launched this. Seventy-eight buses in our bus fleet are undergoing a biodiesel trial. Mr B.J. Grylls interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : Interestingly, the bus broke down on the way to the conference that the Premier spoke about. Quite clearly, work is still to be done. There are quality issues associated with biofuels. It is very appropriate for this government to take that risk in buses that it owns. These buses are outside their warranty period; therefore, the government can properly and safely conduct that trial. The reality is that we have a huge challenge facing us in both peak oil and climate change. We can resolve these problems. The conference that is under way in Perth demonstrates the flowering of technological excellence. There are solutions and this government is prepared to embrace and implement those solutions.
Mr Speaker, we have a serious challenge and I have to say that the WA government is taking a strong lead. We still have a way to go but we are certainly showing leadership. For example, we are investing heavily in public transport that will make our community less oil-dependent. We are the only jurisdiction in the Southern Hemisphere that has participated in the hydrogen fuel cell trial, and that has been very instrumental in helping companies such as DaimlerChrysler take this technology to its next stage. It is our government that has taken the initiative to trial biodiesel. We have 78 buses in - Several members interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : In fact, the Premier launched this. Seventy-eight buses in our bus fleet are undergoing a biodiesel trial. Mr B.J. Grylls interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : Interestingly, the bus broke down on the way to the conference that the Premier spoke about. Quite clearly, work is still to be done. There are quality issues associated with biofuels. It is very appropriate for this government to take that risk in buses that it owns. These buses are outside their warranty period; therefore, the government can properly and safely conduct that trial. The reality is that we have a huge challenge facing us in both peak oil and climate change. We can resolve these problems. The conference that is under way in Perth demonstrates the flowering of technological excellence. There are solutions and this government is prepared to embrace and implement those solutions.
Several members interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : In fact, the Premier launched this. Seventy-eight buses in our bus fleet are undergoing a biodiesel trial. Mr B.J. Grylls interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : Interestingly, the bus broke down on the way to the conference that the Premier spoke about. Quite clearly, work is still to be done. There are quality issues associated with biofuels. It is very appropriate for this government to take that risk in buses that it owns. These buses are outside their warranty period; therefore, the government can properly and safely conduct that trial. The reality is that we have a huge challenge facing us in both peak oil and climate change. We can resolve these problems. The conference that is under way in Perth demonstrates the flowering of technological excellence. There are solutions and this government is prepared to embrace and implement those solutions.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : In fact, the Premier launched this. Seventy-eight buses in our bus fleet are undergoing a biodiesel trial. Mr B.J. Grylls interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : Interestingly, the bus broke down on the way to the conference that the Premier spoke about. Quite clearly, work is still to be done. There are quality issues associated with biofuels. It is very appropriate for this government to take that risk in buses that it owns. These buses are outside their warranty period; therefore, the government can properly and safely conduct that trial. The reality is that we have a huge challenge facing us in both peak oil and climate change. We can resolve these problems. The conference that is under way in Perth demonstrates the flowering of technological excellence. There are solutions and this government is prepared to embrace and implement those solutions.
Mr B.J. Grylls interjected. Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : Interestingly, the bus broke down on the way to the conference that the Premier spoke about. Quite clearly, work is still to be done. There are quality issues associated with biofuels. It is very appropriate for this government to take that risk in buses that it owns. These buses are outside their warranty period; therefore, the government can properly and safely conduct that trial. The reality is that we have a huge challenge facing us in both peak oil and climate change. We can resolve these problems. The conference that is under way in Perth demonstrates the flowering of technological excellence. There are solutions and this government is prepared to embrace and implement those solutions.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : Interestingly, the bus broke down on the way to the conference that the Premier spoke about. Quite clearly, work is still to be done. There are quality issues associated with biofuels. It is very appropriate for this government to take that risk in buses that it owns. These buses are outside their warranty period; therefore, the government can properly and safely conduct that trial. The reality is that we have a huge challenge facing us in both peak oil and climate change. We can resolve these problems. The conference that is under way in Perth demonstrates the flowering of technological excellence. There are solutions and this government is prepared to embrace and implement those solutions.
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