Albo visited by us, and some yankers!

Our local MP Anthony Albanese had a busy day last Thursday, with 100+ of you turning up on a work day to his office to say yes to the carbon price and support renewable energy not negative energy!

(Photos copyright 2011 Erland Howden – More photos up on flickr and on facebook).

Thanks and good work for coming along at such short notice! We were an enthusiastic and positive crowd, and a sharp contrast to the 300 anti-carbon tax protesters who arrived shortly after we left, attacking Albo, shouting angrily and even at one point, yanking Albo’s tie!

The media on the day focused on the heated scenes of the anti carbon-tax protesters, who carried a coffin labelled “democracy is dead”, booed loudly, hurled insults, and held signs proclaiming amongst other things that “tolerance is our demise”. Eventually, Albo addressed those assembled atop a milk crate, although his words were intermittently drowned out by the crowd – see Sky News video here and there’s a youtube video here.

We reckon Albo did bloody well to retain his composure given the abuse he copped, and we’re also pleased it didn’t deter him from announcing this week that the Government will be introducing the carbon price legislation into Parliament next Tuesday.

But we’re a little concerned that the renewable energy parts of the carbon price package are being delayed, given that renewable energy is one of the most significant ways that we can kickstart the transition to a clean energy future, and take action on climate change.

If you’re also happy to see the legislation being passed but want to know where the renewable energy bills are, let Albo know!

Email him at A.Albanese.MP@aph.gov.au to say “good on you, but let’s get some renewable energy happening ASAP to counter all that negative energy”! Or if you’re on twitter, tweet him at @AlboMP.

And from our state Government, we’re still facing some uncertain times for renewable energy with a fading solar industry thanks to Premier Barry O’Farrell slashing the feed-in tariff a few months back – and last month he also announced on talk-back radio that ‘if he had his way’ there would be no new wind projects approved in NSW! Our friends in Victoria aren’t doing much better with Premier Baillieu cracking down on the rules for wind energy projects.

Can you take two minutes to join us in telling Barry and Ted that this is just not on? Send them a clear message here.