service

As someone who has worked in Customer Service, sometimes it is good to be able to recognise it, when others provide great service and to be gracious in allowing someone else to have the pleasure to serve.

Last night, I celebrated the day of my birth, by dining at Esquire with my beloved wife.  The menu at  Esquire is extraordinary.  We had a degustation menu.


I am convinced that one finds happiness by losing oneself in the service of others.


On this occasion, it was a bloke called Chris, serving my wife and I.  Chris must be very happy.

As someone who does not enjoy cooking, as I rule, I find eating is a chore.   I cannot do justice to try to describe the culinary wonder that were served to us.There was all sorts of gels, foams and sorbets.  There was shredded mud crab with macadamia and coffee crumbs.  We crunched on crispy slivers of crackling (made from the double chin of a fattened pig).  There were crunchy wafers of saltmarsh stuffed cows.  Wavers of honey dipped pumpkin with chocolate.


My beloved wife and I both figuratively and literally sucked the marrow out of life (and the thigh bone of a cow).


Fortunately, Chris was able to talk us through each course, telling us what we were about to eat and equipping us with appropriate utensils.  Chris spoke with passion and clearly enjoyed working at  Esquire.

Across the room sat a renown Sunday Age restaurant reviewer: Dani Valant out on the town with local foodies: Mel Kettle & Fleur Cole.


Dani was in Brisbane running thermomix: "in the mix" cooking classes.  My beloved is a Thermomix consultant in her spare time and had attended Dani's course, earlier in the day.


There were others around us taking photos of their food to post on blogs and their twitter feed.  I refrained from doing similar.  I was to engaged, watching my beloved enjoying and discussing the food, our future and our aspirations.  As parents of infants, we don't get out much.


Recently, the someone at work, gave some examples of good customer service that he experienced at the service department of Llewellyn Motors Toyota.


This led to a discussion of the levels of service.


I work for a water/sewage treatment utility.  My customers have come to expect that my company will deliver them a high quality product, available on demand & remove their poo, their wee, the water from showers, sinks, washing machines.


My 1.3 million customers use the water we supply them.  The soil it and send it back to be treated (and disposed to rivers & the bay).  The pressure is on to reduce the cost of the services that my company provides.  The cost of raw water is fixed by the Qld State Government.  The prices we can charge our customers are capped at Consumer Price Index (CPI) increases.


Meanwhile, there are a billion potential customers (globally) who do not have access to drinking water.  There are 2.6 billion people who could be (or should be) in the market for a service provider to collect and treat their poo and wee.  There are young women who cannot complete their education beyond puberty, because their schools lack the facilities to allow them to change pads.


So the challenge faced by my company and those involved in my industry around the world - is how can we reduce the cost of the delivery of water and sewage treatment services, yet maintain (or provide) an acceptable level of service.  How do we reduce the environmental impacts of providing those services? 


Water treatment and transport is energy intensive.  Sewage transport and treatment is also energy intensive.  Disposal of the effluent and residues also present challenges (and opportunities).


I see a convergence between the needs of developed and developing communities to develop new ways to provide exceptional water and sewage treatment services.


We need to reinvent the toilet!


We also need to develop the institution arrangements, service delivery, the back of house (down stream processing) systems, networks, business models, markets, supply chains etc. to support a new generation of toilet technologies.....

  

Coal, Cars and Cows

The following Media release from the Qld Premier demonstrates the Qld Government's commitment to coal, cars and cows....

Premier and Minister for Reconstruction The Honourable Anna Bligh 13/12/2011

Queensland leading Australia on recycling power station emissions

Premier Anna Bligh today inspected an Australian-first project at Tarong Power Station which uses algae to absorb carbon emissions.

Ms Bligh said the Queensland Government had committed $1 million to Phase 1 of the project, which is underway at the South Burnett power station following successful trials of the new technology at a purpose-built pilot facility at James Cook University in Townsville.

"Here we have an example of Queensland innovation and scientific expertise being put to work in an Australian-first project," Ms Bligh said.

"It uses algae to soak up the carbon dioxide emissions from the coal-fired power station, and has the potential to enable a wide range of large emitters to reduce the amount of carbon they release into the atmosphere.

Under a process called Algal Synthesis, captured flue gases from the coal-fired power station are injected into waste water contained in long plastic membranes next to the station.

Algae then grow rapidly in the water, with the captured gases providing carbon dioxide and other nutrients, doubling in quantity every one to two days.

"The algae biomass is then used to make bio fuels which can be used to create valuable products such as livestock feed or oils for transport fuels.

"The search for reliable, affordable, commercial alternatives to oil is now a global effort, and Queensland is an increasingly important player.

"Renewable energy, CSG to LNG, and Bio Fuels are all part of securing a cleaner, greener future for Queensland.

"What's more they are securing our vision for Queensland as the Asia-Pacific hub for new energy sources," the Premier said.

Energy and Water utilities Minister Stephen Robertson said when fully operational, it is anticipated that per hectare per annum, the project will capture up to 700 tonnes of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of taking 170 cars off the road for a year.

"It is also expected to produce one tonne of algal biomass per day, 120 tonnes per annum of algal oil and 240 tonnes per annum of algal meal.

"The first stage of the one-hectare Tarong Power Station facility is complete, with earthworks finalised, most services connected and vertical growth columns for the algae installed. The project is scheduled to be fully commissioned in 2012."

Mr Robertson said the project was a joint initiative between MBD Energy Limited and Queensland Government-owned Stanwell Corporation Limited, the state's largest power generator.

"As Queensland is one of the biggest coal and gas mining and export regions of the world, the Bligh Government has a keen interest in ensuring that combustion of energy resources produce the lowest levels of atmospheric emissions possible," Mr Robertson said.

"I congratulate Stanwell and MBD Energy for working together on this pioneering project which is about testing and finding real solutions for the global challenge of excess industrial carbon emissions.

"As Water Utilities are part of my Ministerial portfolio responsibilities, I'm also very interested in the fact that this process developed by MBD Energy and its R&D team at James Cook University has the capacity to recycle waste water.

"MBD Energy expects to use the Tarong Power Station display plant as a blueprint for one or more potentially much larger projects that seek to recycle waste flue gases into algae biomass on a commercial scale.

"In order to protect local biodiversity, only strains of micro-algae local to Tarong Power Station have been selected for growing."

Stanwell Chief Executive Officer Helen Gluer said Tarong Power Station was proud to be the first coal-fired power station in Australia to test the technology as part of the MBD Energy trial.

"As an energy company, we are acutely aware of our environmental responsibilities and the need to manage emissions from coal-fired generation while meeting a growing demand for electricity," Ms Gluer said.

"Our partnership with MBD Energy to trial the use of algae to sequester carbon dioxide will yield valuable results to inform an ever-growing body of knowledge in this new and exciting sphere."

MBD Managing Director Andrew Lawson updated the Premier on construction progress during the visit and outlined plans for commissioning the facility and commencing extensive trials beginning next year.

"We will evaluate the system's efficiency in reducing CO₂ emissions and its potential to produce valuable products from the algae, such as livestock feed and oils for making transport fuels," Mr Lawson said.

"Our immediate focus is completion of construction, quickly bringing up production to design capacity and then running feed trials for cattle."

Meet your meat

Meet Julie, Judy & Julia.

They are family pets.

They have food: grain & grass (most days). They have shelter (a little chook tractor). They have access to clean water.

They even have designated places to poo.

My chooks are better off than 2.5 billion people, who lack these basic human needs.

My chooks are loved. They get cuddled. They get pats. They are treated relatively well.

Tonight, we are eating some of their relatives.

I am cooking rustic simmered chicken from:

Hay, Donna (2008) No time to cook

.....and it makes me wonder.

Where did the chooks that we are about to eat, come from?

I bought them from the local Chop Shop. Did they live happy lives? Did they die humanely?

Probably not.

For all the controversy over live exports of cows to Indonesia, I have to wonder if the animals that I eat, are any better or worse off than the cows in Indonesia shown on 4corners??!!!

John Safran demonstrates some this in his cooking video.

Michael Pollan is an author (& a Journalist) who wrote the Omnivore's Dilemna, using his investigative journalist's skills to trace his industrial food chains back to the farms where his food is grown.

My journey might be a little easier, since a lot of my food is sourced from Food Connect. I make an attempt to grow some our food in the back yard with mixed success. I am successfully cultivating possums.

I am conscious that different foods have higher carbon footprints and water footprints then others. Obviously anything that is refrigerated or transported vast distances is going to have higher embodied energy & water.

I try to buy local food, that is in season.

.....However, when I see folks vehemently opposed to live exports of cattle from Northern Australia to Indonesia, I wonder if they have thought through the alternatives.

If Australians ban live cattle exports, other countries may fill the gap in the market.

Selling chilled meat to a country where refrigeration is both limited & expensive may not be viable.

There is quite a lot of folks in Indo. Around 240 million, I believe. Growing food locally may not be all that practical. Relying on ever depleting fish stock presents another problem.

As I ponder these things, I am raising more questions than I am answering concerning social justice, animal welfare, food security, vegetable rights & peace.

Sam Neill were we meant to eat him?

We are what we eat.

Have you met your meat?

Carbon Price, Coal Seam Gas, Flood, Cows

ASBG June Seminars
ASBG QLD is very excited about a couple of seminars to be hosted at Norton Rose Australia in June 2011.

We are still fine tuning the programmes. Registration forms will be sent out soon. Both these seminars will provide an update on the recent changes to Australian & Queensland Laws affecting Environment & Safety respectively.

The Environmental Management Seminar on Thursday 15 June 08:00-12:30 will feature Andrew Wilford discussing the bigger picture & setting the context for Environmental Management.

Rebecca Hoare (Norton Rose Australia) will provide an overview & an update of recent changes to Australian & QLD Environmental Law.

Omar Ameer from DERM will be informing those who attend the seminar on how to stay out of trouble with one’s Environmental Regulator.

On Wednesday 22 June from 08:00 to 12:30, ASBG is running a Safety Management Seminar which will include the new changes to Dangerous Goods Packaging & Labeling requirements (Global Harmonisation).

There is a Carbon Price workshop ready to roll, as soon as there is sufficient detail released by the federal Government (watch this space).

Implementation of the Carbon Price

The Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency is calling for written submissions from interested stakeholders on the proposed architecture and implementation arrangements for a carbon pricing mechanism.

Submissions will be used by the Department to inform the development of policy options for discussion by the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee (MPCCC). In order that views can be taken fully into account in the design of policy options, the Department is seeking written submissions by close of business 10 May 2011. Submissions should be emailed to CarbonPriceSubmissions@climatechange.gov.au by 10 May 2011



Coal Seam Gas
ASBG QLD have been hearing a lot of about Coal Seam Gas from frustrated proponents and disaffected opponents who share a common grievance with the Queensland Government Regulators: The Department of Environment & Resource Management (DERM) &/or the Queensland Water Commission (QWC).

ASBG QLD recently heard from a frustrated Environmental Manager from a major Coal Seam Gas proponent, complaining about the amount of pointless analyses & data collection that was required by the Regulators that:
A) Added no value (in terms of knowledge or information);
B) Used time, money & human resources that could be better spent on problem solving or collecting more useful information.

As Environmental Practitioners, there is going to be a huge demand for our services to address complex environmental & regulatory compliance issues.

It would appear the Regulator faces a problem with recruiting and retaining staff (with appropriate qualifications & experience). Anecdotal evidence would suggest that the Coal Seam Gas industry is poaching staff (either passively or actively) from where ever it can get them.

ASBG QLD has started to hear more stories from other industry sectors (such as Petroleum Refining & the Sugar Industry) that are losing staff to the Coal Seam Gas sector and are having a lot of difficulty replacing them.

An unusual alliance of farmers, environmentalists & scientists called the Western Downs Alliance has been lobbying the State and Federal Governments claiming that Coal Seam Gas activities are potentially hazardous to human health, agricultural land & underground water.
One of the Western Downs Alliance’s greatest fears is that Coal Seam Gas Development could irreparably damage the Great Artesian Basin. This lobby is calling on Government/s to impose a moratorium on the industry until all outstanding social & environmental issues have been addressed.



Qld Flood Inquiry
The Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry continues its public hearings into the 2010-11 flood events. It was heartbreaking to hear about the emergency calls from flood victims in Toowoomba and hear of the heroics of the people of Grantham.

The public hearings will be held in Goondiwindi, St George and Brisbane this coming week (3-6 May 2011). The interim report is due in August 2011, to enable early recommendations to be implemented before next summer's wet season.
.



Cows means Farts
ASBG QLD’s newly acquired rural reporter, Lord Julian of Boonah, reports that farmers are happy because cattle prices are at a high & there is lots of grass around!

ASBG is interested in what Lord Julian will make of Professor Ross Garnaut’s Update Paper 4: Transforming rural land use.

Clean Cows (Clean Coal, Clean Cars) & other fairy tales

Dear Minister Mulherin,

I read with interest the results of research into genetic manipulation of beef cattle. Based on Hansard, this technology may have some useful applications for Members of Parliament.

Why is the Queensland State Government (and the oppostion for that matter) so intent on sustaining the Beef industry when clearly Beef is not ecologically sustainable? The CSIRO (Australia's National Greenhouse Gas Inventory, 2003) reports that beef generates over 50 kilograms of CO2 equivalent per kilogram of Beef meat from paddock to plate. A disproportionate amount of water is used in raising cattle. 20 000 liters of water is used to produce a kilogram of steak. 40 000 litres for grain fed Beef.

Why aren't we supporting our Beef producers to transition to alternative forms of protein?

Hard hooved, water and carbon intensive beasts have no place in a Queensland landscape. Apart from coal mining, nothing contributes more to land degradation and loss of native habitat and species, than cattle grazing.

When will the Smart State make the leap of logic and move Agriculture away from intensive, hydrocarbon dependent practices?

The Queensland State Government appears to pay lip service to "Ecological Sustainable Development" without any reference to Ecology.

regards,

Rowan Barber

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
03/05/2009

"Temperamental" humans and cows may share same genes

Some of the genes thought to cause behavioural problems in humans may also cause temperamental behaviour in cattle.

A new $1.35M Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries research project will look at how to switch that gene off in a bid to boost the beef industry.

Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin announced the project ahead of attending the Beef Australia 2009 Expo in Rockhampton.

Mr Mulherin said: "This is exciting, ground-breaking research by our scientists which could literally change the character and quality of our beef herd.

"It would provide a huge boost to Queensland's beef industry which is worth $3.7 billion a year.

"Even though cattle and humans are separated by 60 million years of evolution we share many of the same genes.

"The genes thought to cause behavioural problems in humans are also found in cattle.

"We already know there is an association between the temperament of cattle and the tenderness of the meat - the more temperamental, the less tender.

"So if our scientists can learn how to switch off the gene that causes irritability in cattle then we can produce more tender meat which has a higher value to industry.

"We're not just looking at tenderness. We're also investigating a whole range of other factors that could boost profitability.

"For instance we may be able to influence cattle to have calves earlier in the season.

"Calves born earlier are typically heavier than calves born later in the season and because the cows have calved earlier they can produce a calf once a year (instead of skipping a year) and without increasing cow mortalities.

"This is one of the most significant aspects of this research as reproduction rate is the number one driver of profitability in Northern Australian beef enterprises," Mr Mulherin said.

Leading this five-year investment in cutting edge research is Dr Brian Burns, a Rockhampton-based QPIF principal research scientist specialising in genetics and animal breeding.

Dr Burns said his research project centres around the new field of 'epigenetics' - the study of modifications to genes other than changes in the DNA sequence itself.

Dr Burns said: "We're working closely with national and international partners on expanding our knowledge of 'epigenetics'.

"Our aim is to breed cattle with the most desirable genetic characteristics for domestic and international markets.

"That will mean cattle with improved reproduction, growth, carcase, adaptation and behavioural traits and better end-product quality.

"This is new territory we are entering and we still don't fully understand the various epigenetic interactions influencing some genes that can turn these genes on or off and cause deviations from traditional inheritance patterns in cattle," he said.

"What we do know is that this project will greatly improve our knowledge of epigenetics and help achieve more consistent production traits and better end product beef quality."

The beef epigenetics project is focusing on four main outcomes for Brahman x British crossbred and tropical composite breed cattle in Queensland:

·greater reproductive efficiency

·more consistent growth

·better carcase traits

·improved temperament

·better environmental adaptation.

Dr Burns said what made this research even more important to the Queensland agricultural economy was that tropically adapted Bos indicus beef cattle breeds (which include Brahman) and their crosses with non-tropically adapted British and large European breeds, and tropically adapted Bos taurus breeds and crosses were critical for survival and production in Queensland's harsh tropical production systems.


"Brahmans and their crosses are predominant in Queensland and northern Australia," he said.


"The Bos indicus content of northern Australian beef herds rose from 5% in 1970 to approximately 85% during the 1990s.


"Therefore, the Brahman and their crosses are central to the future development and productivity of the Queensland beef cattle herd."

Dr Burns said by identifying epigenetic influences that affect reproduction, growth, carcase, environmental adaptation and behavioural traits, breeders could expect increased efficiency and profitability in their operations.

"We believe we can also ensure that Brahman crossbred heifers and cows will be more fertile throughout their production lives, with improved maternal ability and temperament, and produce beef that is even more tender," he said.

"More consistent growth would mean better and more predictable final target market liveweights and slaughter weights, which could be tailored for specific markets.

"With a better understanding of the genetic potential of individual cattle, we will be able to develop strategies for producers to harness epigenetic influences within their own cattle breeding programs."

Dr Burns said the QPIF research team would be working closely with Professor Stefan Hiendleder, Head of the University of Adelaide/Roseworthy Campus-based JS Davies Epigenetics and Genetics Group.

The research group has the molecular genetics specialists to evaluate novel aspects of growth. This JS Davies group also has a collection of embryos and foetuses that are either purebred Bos indicus or Bos taurus or their reciprocal crosses which they will use to identify imprinted genes for a broad trait spectrum in beef cattle.

Another component of the project will be led by Associate Professor Andy Herring, Texas A&M University (TAMU), who will be supporting the project using almost 50 years of post-natal growth and development, reproduction and carcass data in addition to 20 years of DNA information collected from the TAMU McGregor Genomics Project resource herds.

The epigentics data extracted from these reciprocal cross herds in Texas will help validate parent of origin effects on foetal growth, calf birth weight and life time performance in both QPI&F owned Brahman and collaborating Droughtmaster producer herds throughout Queensland.

This project will be profiled at the Beef Australia 2009 expo in Rockhampton, as part of the 5 May "FutureBeef: Smart Science, New Technologies, Profitable Beef Businesses" Seminar. The seminar will showcase the innovative work of scientists and extension officers in the field of molecular and genetic technologies and beef business management, and how this can boost the beef industry.

What: "Smart science, New technologies, Profitable beef businesses" Seminar

When: 10.30am-1pm. Tuesday, 5 May 2009

Where: Room 1, James Lawrence Pavilion, Beef Australia expo, Rockhampton Showgrounds.

Media: Mark Symons 32396530

re-inventing the roo

it frustrates me that they put so much time, effort and cash into maintaining the status quo, instead of biting the bullet and looking at alternative sources of protein (apart from cow & sheep) like roo, mushrooms etc....

James thinks it's funny that they're trying to turn cow's into Kangaroos when they could just use Kangaroos. "they're politicians, they have to look for solutions that will win votes".



---------- Forwarded message ----------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: statements@qld.gov.au
Subject: Winds of climate change for gassy cows
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 10:07:53 +1000

Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland
The Honourable Tim Mulherin

06/04/2009 Winds of climate change for gassy cows

The Queensland Government has secured funding for three new, major research projects aimed at cutting the greenhouse gas belched out by livestock.

Primary Industries and Fisheries in the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI), and the University of Queensland (UQ) were successful in obtaining three of the Federal Government's 18 emission reduction projects.

Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland Tim
Mulherin said the projects focus on minimising methane emissions from cattle and sheep.

Mr Mulherin said: "Many people don't realise that livestock produce serious quantities of methane - affecting the earth's temperature and climate system.
"In fact, methane 'burped out' by sheep and cattle contributes up to 14% of Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions.

"We are already known for cutting edge research on this problem - in particular investigating whether bacteria from kangaroos, which are largely methane-free, can be implanted in cattle and sheep to reduce their methane production.

"These three new projects are in addition to that research.
Almost $1 million has been allocated to the projects, which aim to be completed in the next three years," Mr Mulherin said.

Primary Industries and Fisheries senior principal research scientist and UQ associate professor in animal nutrition Dr Athol Klieve outlined the projects.
Dr Klieve said: "One project centres on using viruses that attack methane-producing microbes in the guts of cattle and sheep.

"We are sure these viruses exist, we just have to isolate them.
"Another project will investigate boosting livestock feed by adding lipids (oils).
"Improving feed quality with lipids automatically improves the condition of the animal and cuts the amount of methane produced. It also reduces the organisms in the gut that produce methane.

"The third project will investigate the value of microbes that turn the methane produced in the gut back into hydrogen and carbon dioxide," Dr Klieve said.
Mr Mulherin said: "If we began reducing methane emissions now, we could see a change in 10 to 20 years.

"These projects could help achieve that while also contributing to increased productivity within the beef, lamb, dairy and wool industries," he said.
"The scientists and PhD students in Primary Industries and Fisheries Rumen Ecology Unit are excited to be involved with these projects that could potentially achieve significant cuts to Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions for the future."
The projects are co-funded through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry's Climate Change Research Program in conjunction with Meat and Livestock Australia.

For more information on animal science, visit the Primary Industries and Fisheries website at www.dpi.qld.gov.au or call the Business Information Centre on 13 25 23.


Media: 32396530

Qld Greens are too soft core

Our politicians have failed us.

We cannot sit and wait for them to act on Climate change. Clearly they are not going to.

Every consumer choice we make is a vote for or against the planet. If everybody (including industry) stopped buying coal fired electricity, they might actually stop making it.

Regards,

Rowan Barber
Director

Carbon Counters Pty Ltd

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sent: 09 March 2009 06:24To: 'ronan.lee@parliament.qld.gov.au'; 'leeronan@hotmail.com'; 'Indooroopilly Electorate Office'Cc: 'brisbane.central@qld.greens.org.au'

Subject: FW: Ronan Lee eNews - a commitment to jobs, light rail and new rail links

Ronan Lee
Incumbent Member for Indooroopilly

Dear Ronan,


I am frustrated with the QLD State election campaign. Even the Greens seem to miss the point.

You and Drew have a few ideas but in reality the Greens appear to be so focused on appealing to the mainstream that they are missing the critical issues.

Cars, Coal & Cows cause Climate Catastrophies!

Climate change is one of the most significant global threats today and the issue is of major public concern in Australia. Yet we find that substantive action on climate change within the state of Queensland is sadly lacking.

The reality of the situation is that drastic structural changes will be necessary to break my society's addiction to fossil fuels.

The QLD Greens are still very soft core.

Regards,

Rowan Barber
Non-Partisan Climate Advocate

From: Indooroopilly Electorate Office [mailto:Indooroopilly@parliament.qld.gov.au]
Sent: 08 March 2009 18:27To: Indooroopilly Electorate Office
Subject: Ronan Lee eNews - a commitment to jobs, light rail and new rail links

Ronan Lee MP - Indooroopilly eNews March 8th, 2009
In this edition:
1. Ronan Lee launches Greens campaign with commitment to jobs, light rail, new rail links
2. Greens announce plans for FREE public transport for students and young people
3. Sustainable jobs package for Queensland
4. Do you need a Postal Vote?

1. Ronan Lee launches Greens campaign with commitment to jobs, light rail, new rail links Ronan Lee yesterday launched the Greens campaign for the Queensland State election with a commitment to a new light rail network for Brisbane, a plan to create jobs by making Queensland the renewable energy and sustainable industry capital of Australia and new rail links to Bellbowrie (via Darra), Toowoomba, Redcliffe and a passenger service for Beaudesert.
New Light Rail Plans The Greens will build a light rail network for the Greater Brisbane area.

This will include:
* A Northern Line to Aspley
* A North-West Line to Bridgeman Downs
* The Gap Line to Brisbane Forest Park
* The Western Line through Kenmore and Moggill, linking up with the Ipswich rail line
* The University of Queensland Line and
* The Eastern Line to Capalaba.
* The South East line – making use of the existing busway.

Queensland’s bus ways are designed to be capable of running light rail and we will make sure that we take full advantage of this.

This light rail network will fill in gaps in the heavy rail system and give Brisbane a world class public transport system. We would be applying to the Federal Government under their new public transport funding program to underwrite part of the cost.

A helping hand for renewable energy to create jobs Our vision for a new Queensland is based on building a diverse, strong economy that pollutes less, generates clean energy and employs more people.

The Greens want Queensland to be the world leader in the creation of green jobs and we want green companies to come to Queensland. These companies sometimes need a helping hand when they are locating in Queensland for the first time.

The old parties were quick to give financial incentives to the Indy car race and Virgin airlines but they have refused the same opportunities for manufactures of solar cells.

For the lack of any meaningful incentive from the State Government the Spark Solar company, which has been given Major Project Facilitation status by the Federal Government and which has the potential to be the largest supplier of solar cells in the Southern Hemisphere, states on its web site that it is looking to base themselves in one of the southern cities. At full production, the factory is initially expected to produce more than 10 million solar cells each year, generating an estimated $135 million in annual export revenue and employing more than 115 Australians in high tech positions.

The Queensland government’s refusal to understand the potential of renewable energy is costing Queenslanders jobs and holding back our economy.

The Greens will waive all State Government levies, fees and charges for any company generating green jobs that comes to Queensland. This won’t cost the taxpayer one cent because these are new companies.

New Rail lines Green action will create jobs by building new rail links to Toowoomba, Redcliffe, Bellbowrie via Darra, a passenger service for Beaudesert and speeding up construction on the Springfield and Sunshine Coast lines.

New trains built in Queensland and new rail lines mean more jobs for Queenslanders, a better transport system, less traffic congestion. This is win-win but the old parties can’t see the job opportunities here.

And we will fund these important commitments from the massive savings that will be made when we stop pointless billion dollar road proposals like the Kenmore Bypass. Our plan will solve transport problems not just shift them the way the old parties would.

2. Greens announce plans for FREE public transport for students and young people The Greens today announced at the University of Queensland Market Day a plan for free public transport for young people in Queensland.Under the Greens' plan young people under 22 years of age and all students would ride free on all trains, buses ferries and CityCats.Greens MP for Indooroopilly Ronan Lee said such a policy was important because it provided young people with free public transport to encourage them to use and learn more about the system before they learned how to drive. This means they were less likely to become habitual car drivers.Students and young people would register for an EasiCard which would use the GoCard system and provide them with free transport."This scheme would cost the State Government $40 million a year but this would be more than compensated for by such benefits as improving safety around schools by reducing the number of vehicles dropping off students," Mr Lee said."This is a congestion-busting policy and would save future governments from having to build new roads."There's a short-term cost to the government with a long-term benefit to the community."
For more info visit: http://www.ronanleemp.com/

3. Sustainable jobs package for Queensland Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown and Greens MP Ronan Lee launched a plan to create more than 7600 green-collar jobs in Queensland.
Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown and Greens MP Ronan Lee launched a plan to create more than 7600 green-collar jobs in Queensland.

"The Greens will create thousands of green-collar jobs in Queensland by retrofitting homes for energy efficiency and investing in clean energy infrastructure," Senator Brown said.
"Unlike President Obama, who has committed to creating 5 million green-collar jobs, the state and federal Labor governments are spending taxpayers' money to support big banks, big polluters and big developers.

"The Greens EASI-Q program will retrofit Queensland homes with better insulation and solar hot-water tanks, reducing power bills for ordinary Australians and creating 3,200 jobs by its fifth year of operation,” Senator Brown said.

Greens MP Ronan Lee said the Labor and Liberal parties were locked into an old approach to job creation.
"There’s not a single environmentalist or renewable energy expert on the Premier’s so-called Jobs Squad," Mr Lee said.
"The Greens want to see Queensland develop an economic base that continues to create jobs into the 21st century. That’s why the Greens would invest in two 250 megawatt solar power stations for Townsville and the Darling Downs," Mr Lee said.

The solar power stations will cost a total of $4 billion, with State and Federal Governments underpinning half the cost. The development of the clean energy infrastructure will create 4,000 jobs in the construction phase with 400 ongoing jobs.

4. Do you need a Postal Vote?
If you will be away or unable to get to a polling booth on election day you can apply for a Postal Vote by downloading a form by visiting file://www.ronanleemp.com/ or you can phone Ronan on 3878 1928 or email ronan.lee@parliament.qld.gov.au and he will arrange a Postal Vote for you.

Authorised: Drew Hutton, 49 Station Road, Indooroopilly for the Greens.

.............................................
Ronan Lee MP State Member for Indooroopilly Queensland Greens
Ph: 3878 1928 Ground Floor, 49 Station Road Indooroopilly Qld 4068