A proforma for writing an LNP Policy

A CanDo LNP will act to [insert aspirational objective] by [insert knee jerk response with an arbitrary budget or no social or environmental impact assessment].

An LNP Government will invest [insert a shit load of money] into a package which will [reiterate impossible objective in different words].

The LNP will grow a four pillar economy across our industry, and understands the importance [reinterate aspirational objective again].

The tired 20 year Labor Government has ignored the needs [list some vested interests].

[Insert an oversimplification of problems being experienced]

The LNP is committed to delivering a strong, viable, healthy and sustainable [insert industry].

Under the Bligh Labor Government [insert industry] has struggled and many [insert vested interest] face an uncertain future.

The LNP is committed to the health and wellbeing of [insert industry] and will undertake a [insert shitloads of money] program in consultation with the industry.

[Promise unrelated but attractive consequences].

[Suggest some superficial changes that are easily delivered by make no significant difference, like moving responsibility to another Department and refer to cutting waste a lot]

{Suggest handing back control to a group of stakeholders who are currently already in control}.

The LNP understands [Insert activity] is very much a part of life in Queensland.

It's time for a change. With your help a strong and united LNP Government will get Queensland back on track.

LNP Policy Commitments:

• [insert shitloads of money]
• [promise extraordinary outcome]

Sustainable Business Weekly QLD Edition [Silo Smashing, Business Sustainability, RiverPrize, CopperString, Cycling]

The SSEE International Conference

The Society of Sustainability and Environmental Engineering 2011 bi-annual conference 'Escaping Silos' is on in Brisbane from Monday 24 to Wednesday 26 October 2011

Keynote speakers

The SSEE 2011 International Conference organisers are pleased to confirm the following Key Note speakers:

· Annie Leonard the writer and presenter of the Story of Stuff and the Story of Cap and Trade

· Paul Gilding, author of the Great Disruption

· Dr Carol Boyle, International Centre for Sustainability Engineering and Research

· Krista Milne, City of Melbourne Manager Sustainability

· Amanda McKenzie of Australian Youth Climate Coalition

To register your interest in attending go to the Registration of Interest page on the conference website.

Business Sustainability and Global Reporting

In professional practice, Business Leaders are starting to use some relatively new terminology and tools relating to Sustainability, tied into Global Reporting.

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) invites practitioners to participate in the first Public Comment Period for G4 – the fourth generation of GRI’s Sustainability Reporting Guidelines.

A Business Sustainability Manager at water utility, state that Business Sustainability has moved beyond the 1987 Brundtland Report to encompass economic, social and environmental values. GRI is one of the drivers.

The survey closes on 24 November 2011. For further details please see the GRI website

AWA Water Sector Sustainability Framework - update

The Australian Water Association’s Water Sector Sustainability Framework has been developed to assist AWA's Corporate Members embed sustainability principles and practices within their business activities, and encourages organisations to assess their progress. The Framework consists of a Sustainability Charter for the water sector, providing a set of Sustainability Principles by which participants can guide their business activities.

The Framework also provides a Business Case for participation and a Toolkit which will in time be developed into an online 'Sustainability Knowledge Point'.

AWA is now ready for Corporate Members to sign-up to the Framework and Charter. For further details about the Framework and how to participate please visit the website.

Sunshine Coast Rivers Initiative wins the Riverprize

The International River Foundation (IRF) awarded the Sunshine Coast Rivers Initiative (coordinated by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council and Partners) the National Riverprize for excellence in improving river health and engaging numerous communities in the Sunshine Coast region. Sunshine Coast Rivers Initiative won the award for their impressive collection of river-health planning and on-ground achievement in six catchment areas, totalling approximately 5000km of waterways across the Sunshine Coast and southeast Queensland. Each year, the National Riverprize is presented, along with the Thiess International Riverprize, at the International Riversymposium Visit the International RiverFoundation website for further details.

Copperstring Pork barrels?

There are rumours of a new levy for Electricity consumers in Queensland to tip some funds into the CopperString project. CopperString is a proposal to construct a transmission line from Woodstock (south of Townsville) to Dajarra Road near Cloncurry in North West Queensland.

The CopperString project proponents (rumoured to be mates and/or relatives of Bob Katter) are trying to build a business case which includes renewable energy projects along the proposed transmission line to supply clean energy to the National Electricity Market. The business case is full of holes.

There needs to be more scrutiny of the funding arrangements, to ensure Businesses across Queensland are not subsidizing cheap electricity to a few beneficiaries in the Resources sector.

There needs to be a sustainability analysis and an options study on distributed electricity generation and supply. It does not always make sense to keep extending one grid.

The project has a total financing requirement of approximately AU$1.5 billion.

New Cycling Strategy?

Queensland’s new cycle strategy attempt to get more people cycling, more often, while Governments at all levels have historically failed to provide adequate cycling infrastructure.

The new 2011-21 strategy builds on focuses on four key areas:

• building safe, directed and connected cycle networks
• growing a cycling culture
• creating cycle-friendly communities
• developing a cycling economy.

View or download a copy of the Queensland Cycling Strategy or Contact: cycles@tmr.qld.gov.au

Ecoforum, Minchin Vs Garnaut, NZ's ETS, Pork Barrels

The Australian Sustainable Business Group (ASBG) are still in discussions with NortonRose on the best ways to deliver some workshops on the ever changing Carbon market. Public Holidays, school Holidays and other time constraints are making it difficult.

Stay tuned for a series of half day workshops in May, June & July as more detail is revealed by the Federal Government. ASBG is working with NortonRose to provide up to the moment information on the implications for business of the Carbon Price Architecture announcements.

In another half day workshop a representative from DERM will discuss "how to stay out of trouble with the regulator."

Yet another half day workshop will follow, for those with an interest in Safety. Particularly, changes to Dangerous goods regulation and the new chemical classification and labelling systems.

ASBG is also planning a number of FREE public evening forums on Sustainability, with moderated panel discussions.


ASBG at Ecoforum


This week ASBG participated in an Ecoforum Workshop. The stated objective of the workshop was to encourage “business” to interact with community groups to increase understanding and bring about cooperation between industry and community.

I think it is an important objective to engage Community Groups with Technical Specialists. It is essential to raise the technical knowledge of community groups. They appear to lack the very basics of water chemistry, biology, ecology and the associated institutional arrangements.

We achieved a great deal and had the opportunity to discuss future strategies with David Bates – one of the convenors of EcoForum.


Senator Nick Minchin vs Professor Ross Garnaut

Senior Liberal Nick Minchin says the earth is more likely to be cooling than warming. The Senator has criticised Professor Ross Garnaut for being "on the Government's payroll".

While the debate about the Gillard Government's carbon tax plan, continues to rage, Professor Garnaut warned that the scientific case for climate change had strengthened the position that the Earth is warming and that human emissions of greenhouse gases are the main cause.

Senator Minchin - who led the Liberal Party's move to dump leader Malcolm Turnbull over his support for action over climate change - says Professor Garnaut, an economist, "knows nothing about the climate".

One can contact to Senator Minchin via his website or by snail mail:

PO BOX 2141
Kent Town SA 5071

One can also find Professor Garnaut review updates online.

New Zealand steps closer to an Emission Trading Scheme

A panel reviewing New Zealand's emissions trading scheme has issued a discussion paper summarising the impacts and soliciting for feedback.
The NZ scheme starts with a very soft start. The current NZ discussion paper solicits views on ramping up the scheme. NZ’s ETS only requires liable parties to surrender one unit for every two tonnes of emissions until the end of 2012.
Liable parties can currently also opt to pay a fixed price of $25 per emissions unit. About 50% of New Zealand's emissions come from agriculture, and agricultural processors are due to enter the scheme in 2015.
The paper says the average dairy farmer currently incurs working expenses of about $494,000 and the entry of agricultural processors into the scheme will increase these costs by about $10,000.
Sheep and beef farms currently incur average working expenses of $180,000 a year and these will rise by $5,500 a year.

Ray Smith’s Barrel of pork

Labor Candidate for Lord Mayor of Brisbane (2012) Ray Smith wants to hand out $100 in water rebates (barrels of pork), while billions of dollars of water recycling infrastructure at Bundamba, Gibson Island & Luggage Point sits idle.

Councillor Adrian Schrinner (Brisbane City Council’s Finance committee chair) suggested that Ray Smith's proposed water rebate would result in cuts to Parks and Libraries. Ironically (and/or hypocritically) the Lord Mayor Campbell Newman has already cut funds to roads, parks, libraries and community grants to fund flood reconstruction & his beloved Northern Link Road tunnel

Brisbane, Ipswich and the Scenic rims sewers are now operated and (poorly) maintained by Queensland Urban Utilities.

QUU is the water and wastewater business servicing the five local authorities of Brisbane, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim and Somerset. QUU is jointly owned by the five councils and operates as a statutory authority. The sewers & water distribution networks are suffering from years of neglect & every second week another water main erupts under a sink hole.

Brisbane’s Lord Mayor – Campbell Newman, Ray Smith and Premier Anna Bligh appear to be too focused on election cycles.

Water & sanitation infrastructure is too critical to be neglected & milked for cash by short term thinking.