Galvanising the public sector into action

Funding conditions of this kind have the potential to bring about quite significant reductions in the use of electricity. A university which recently declared itself so poorly funded that it must consider partial closure is nevertheless able to pay for the electricity used to floodlight its fenced carparks every night - after paying for a security service to lock and inspect them several times a night.

7. Give preference to those tendering for supply to the public sector where the tenderer can provide evidence that it has, or will, reduce its use of electricity.

All other things being equal, supply contracts should be awarded to the tender who can show evidence of action that will be taken to reduce consumption of electricity. That reduction could be bought about by the above measures or by simply switching in part or whole to the use of electricity generated from renewable sources.

Uniform policy throughout Australia is needed to ensure that private sector organisations supplying government with goods and services are provided with additional stimulus to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Commonwealth legislation is needed to achieve this.

8. Appoint an officer with prime responsibility for developing policies, targets and programs for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and for advising on ways of doing so.

Each local government council should appoint an environment officer to assist it in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, who can seek financial and other assistance to do so and report on the outcomes of these initiatives. The appointee would be responsible for advising on and monitoring the implementation of measures which the private sector and households could take to reduce emissions.

Most of these measures will create new jobs and reduce CO2 emissions by reducing consumption of electricity generated from fossil fuels. In turn the public sector can either earn money or reduce expenditure - outcomes which are highly desirable. So why isn’t this being fully and properly addressed by public policy? Why is the public sector so reluctant to take action? Why does it refuse to be held publicly accountable?

There are of course several notable exceptions where local government is actively engaged in implementing the measures described above. They are neither averse to committing themselves to action or reporting their achievements. Unfortunately this is not the case where Commonwealth, State or the vast majority of local governments are concerned. Why?