Switch off Hazelwood – Switch on Renewables

Community members wanting to see an urgent transition from coal to renewable electricity for our state today officially launched the ‘Switch off Hazelwood – Switch on Renewables’ day of action.

Pablo Brait, spokesperson for the group said, “We are launching this community campaign here on the steps of Parliament house to make it clear to our political representatives that the social licence to continue burning coal is being revoked.”

“We have signed petitions, written letters and changed our light globes, yet we still see government failing to take any meaningful action on climate change. In fact they are continuing to subsidise the coal industry with our tax dollars.”

“That sort of political and taxpayer support should be put towards a transition to renewable energy – not continuing our reliance on polluting coal. The Rudd and Brumby Governments are not listening to the climate scientists or the community, and they are refusing to stand up to the big polluters.”

“On Sunday September 13, hundreds of ordinary Victorians and Australians, will go to the Hazelwood coal power station, one of the most polluting coal power stations in the industrialised world and declare a ‘Community Decommission Order’ on this dinosaur of the past,” said Mr Brait.

“The thing that is blocking this transition to renewable energy is a lack of political vision and leadership. We have the technology, the expertise and the ability…now the community is leading the way to make the transition to switch on renewables and switch off coal,” concluded Mr Brait.

The Switch off Hazelwood. Switch off Coal. Switch on Renewables protest is being organised by people who care about climate change and want to see a switch from coal to renewable energy. For more information please visit:

http://www.switchoffhazelwood.org