Industry needs to be cleaner, say Greens

By Shaun Inguanzo
THE Greens are supporting a carbon tax on industrial businesses to promote a ‘greener’ environment in Dandenong South’s large industrial area.
Greens candidate for the South Eastern Metropolitan Region Jim Reiher said more needed to be done to ensure industry lowered its contribution to climate change, beyond what the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) already required.
Star probed Mr Reiher and the Greens on their thoughts about Dandenong South’s large and expanding industrial zone after the City of Greater Dandenong told local press at a briefing last month that pollution was not an issue.
Council development services director Mal Baker said at the October meeting that businesses had to meet, and already were meeting EPA requirements, and that pollution would not limit the region’s expansion.
Mr Reiher this week said the EPA regulations “need tightening”.
“The Greens believe in sustainable green, clean industry,” he said.
“We want industries to save more water, to be climate change aware, and we support the introduction of a carbon tax on industry.
“We want the EPA to tighten some areas that need attention.
“For example, EPA regulations do not yet include directions on carbon emissions.
“So it is not good enough for council to say all is well, we can ignore climate change, because we have the EPA regulations in place.
“This line does not hold water.”