Tasmanian Labor Senator, Lisa Singh has signed the Pollution Free Politics Pledge, calling for an end to taxpayer funded subsidies for fossil fuel companies.

Senator Singh signed the pledge that calls on all politicians to support a ban on donations from fossil fuel companies, and a ban on subsidies to fossil fuel companies. She is the fifth sitting Labor MP to sign the pledge. No Liberal MPs have yet signed.

“I support Labor’s policy on 50% of electricity coming from renewable power sources by 2030. To achieve this we need to transition away from fossil fuels and support solar, wind and other renewables,” Senator Singh said.

“It is for this reason I have signed the pledge. If we are really serious about combatting climate change we need to end our reliance on fossil fuels; that starts by ending subsidies that incentivise polluting behaviours. Labor will support investment in renewable technology and create an Emissions Trading Scheme providing a market based mechanism to reduce emissions and encourage businesses to produce electricity in a cleaner way.”

The Pollution Free Politics Pledge has been signed by 18 sitting MPs and 17 candidates and is part of a campaign by 350.org Australia to end the unhealthy relationship between the fossil fuel industry and our elected leaders.

“Over the past 3 years, fossil fuel industry has donated $3.7 million to the major parties. In return, the Federal government will provide $7.7 billion in subsidies to the fossil fuel industry in the coming financial year,” 350.org campaigner, Isaac Astill said.

“This is the reason we are not seeing action on climate change. The major parties are compromised by their cosy relationship with the fossil fuel industry, and this needs to change. The Great Barrier Reef is 93% bleached, we are in the midst of the worst drought ever, record bushfires ravaged the country all summer and our politicians can’t act on climate change because they’re captured by a dirty industry.

“Lisa Singh and the other Labor MPs who have signed this pledge are showing leadership on this issue by acknowledging that the taxpayer funded gravy train for this destruction industry has to end. It is now up to the Coalition to come out of the jurassic era and embrace a clean energy future.”

Media contact:

350.org – Cambell Klose 0490 436 948