The Age - The major parties' green credentials are off the rails

A fixation with road transport compromises climate change policy, writes Kenneth Davidson.

RUDD Labor's green credentials are slipping. And you don't have to look far for the reasons. Until Labor produces interim greenhouse gas targets for 2020, and policies to match, the promise of a 60 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 just remains so much hot air.

On the ALP's election website there were 29 transport policy promises — 27 involved specific pledges for road funding totalling $8.3 billion and two "vision" statements on shipping and rail in speeches by shadow transport minister Martin Ferguson in July and August.

These speeches don't commit a dollar expenditure or give even an indication of the roles shipping and rail might play in achieving greenhouse targets. Nor do they mitigate the double whammy of peak oil (which is driving world oil prices towards $100 a barrel) and Australia's "oil squeeze" as declining domestic production and rising demand will push oil self-sufficiency from a present 84 per cent to 20 per cent in the next two decades.

ABC - 'Get off oil addiction': Greens

The Australian Greens says both the major parties need to increase their commitment to public transport - especially in light of record high oil prices. Crude oil has recently been trading around $US100 a barrel.

Greens Senator Christine Milne, says the demand for public transport is going to continue to increase because of the oil price. She says half of the Auslink roads funding should be allocated to public transport past 2014. "The Prime Minister has no idea of the connection between the oil price and the road funding," she said. "What we need to do is say 'get off our addiction to oil' - as indeed President Bush has recognised - 'and invest in public transport'."

ABC - Greens push for high speed rail network

NZ Herald - $600m power lines upgrade planned