On this day 25 years ago, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the Australian Labor Party was gearing up to use environmental issues to attract voters… Ha ha ha ha.
Federal Labor is preparing a major push for the green vote at the next election by toughening its stance in key areas including greenhouse gases and mining in national parks.
A draft of its revised policy platform also commits the party to establishing a new independent watchdog, the Commissioner for the Environment.
Labor will also maintain its commitment to examine all legal options to stop the construction of a new nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights in Sydney and close the Jabiluka uranium mine in Kakadu National Park.
The Opposition’s environment spokesman, Mr Nick Bolkus, and foreign affairs spokesman, Mr Laurie Brereton, are involved in the push for a revised policy, arguing there is an opportunity to exploit disenchantment with the Government. [Kyoto was removed at August ALP Conference in Hobart by Martyn Edwards and Bob McMullan. But they went to the 2001 election with it, so it got put back at some point…]
Robinson, M. and Clennell, A. 2000. Labor To Push Tough Policy For Green Vote. Sydney Morning Herald, April 17, p.7.
The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was roughly 372ppm. As of 2025 it is 427ppm, but check here for daily measures.
The context was that Australian Prime Minister John Howard was dragging his heels on all environmental issues, and especially renewable energy and other climate issues.
What we learn. Labor used to pretend harder to care.
What happened next. Labor lost the 2001 Federal Election. And the 2004 one. Then – irony of ironies – Kevin Rudd was able to use Howard’s policy vandalism on all matters climate as a stick to beat him with ahead of the 2007 election. Howard became only the second sitting Prime Minister to lose his own seat in the November 2007 election.
April 17, 1981 – David Burns writes in New York Times about trouble ahead – All Our Yesterdays
April 17, 1993 – Paul Keating versus the idea of a carbon tax…
April 17, 2007 – UN Security Council finally discusses the most important security issue of all…