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18 March, 2008: Outside Parliament House, Canberra, Greenpeace 
activists demonstrate the imbalance of energy subsidies by erecting a 
pair of giant scales. 90% of Australians want to see renewable energy 
given at least the same government handouts that fossil fuels get, a 
Newspoll survey commissioned by Greenpeace has revealed. The poll also 
found that 78% of Australians are unaware that fossil fuels receive a 
lot more subsidies than renewable energy.

Outside Parliament House, Canberra, Greenpeace activists show the imbalance of energy handouts with a pair of giant scales.

Enlarge image

Australia — At least $9 billion of Australian taxpayers' money goes to fossil fuel company handouts every year. The coal industry even gets a $300 million discount on diesel fuel. It's a legacy of the Howard government that Kevin Rudd can ditch in the May federal budget.

Ditching fossil fuel subsidies for would be a popular move, reveals a Greenpeace-commissioned Newspoll survey. Released today, it shows that 90% of Australians want to see renewable energy given at least the same government subsidies that fossil fuels get.

How much are you giving?


Taxpayers unwittingly fund wealthy fossil fuel companies with $803 per average taxpayer every year... That’s $803 of your money that could be spent on renewables and energy efficiency instead of fueling climate change in Australia.

Renewables are losing out


The new poll shows that 78% of Australians didn't know that fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) get 28 times more government handouts than renewable energy and energy efficiency programs.

Rudd says he's serious about halting climate change. So now is the time to stop feeding the wealthy fossil fuel companies with cash handouts to increase their profits. Fossil fuels should be penalised and public money put into renewable energy solutions, such as solar and wind, to tackle climate change.

Immediate action, say Australians


Among Australians polled who agreed the government subsidies should be transferred to renewable energy, the vast majority asked to see increases in subsidies for renewables in the next 12 months. Over half of this majority demanded action immediately.

A solution in the budget


The federal budget in May is an ideal time for the new government to begin phasing out unnecessary and environmentally damaging handouts to fossil fuels. Removing the coal industry’s $300 million diesel fuel discount is a first step. The budget will be a major test of Kevin Rudd’s willingness to take real action on climate change and help make Australia a world leader in the renewable energy industry.