Liberal Environment Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, said earlier today, "You cannot run a modern economy on wind farms and solar panels. It's a pity that you can't, but you can't."

Turnbull's comments indicate the federal government's inability to redirect Australia's energy future and economic security.

"It's been long-established in the energy sector that if you have the will, spend the money and then institute the plan, renewables can provide secure electricity supply without the disastrous environmental and social side effects of nuclear power and coal," said Adrian Whitehead, BZE lead campaigner.

"Mr Turnbull is irresponsibly misleading the energy debate in making such deceptive comments on the issue. His unfounded comments this morning indicate the Liberal Government's complete disregard of the well-documented maturity of existing commercially available renewable technologies," said Matthew Wright, Beyond Zero Emissions' researcher and campaigner.

"In addition to being able to go 100% renewable with what is available today, there are locally developed Australian renewable technologies on the horizon. To have these funded with the billions currently being wasted on 'clean coal' or '4th generation nuclear' would see swift advances in Concentrating Solar Photovoltaic plants, Concentrating Solar Thermal plants with storage and Geothermal power."

Beyond Zero Emissions has recently released a comprehensive plan that relies on commercially available wind power backed up by existing hydro and gas, some new gas, advanced demand side management and overall energy use reduction.

"Currently the Liberals appear much more concerned about representing two of their main constituents, BHP and Rio Tinto, the largest coal and uranium miners in Australia, rather than the 20 million people who live on this continent and who will bare the brunt of risky human-induced climate change," said Mr Wright.

"Policy and action that does not recognise the fundamental role of commercially available renewables in our nation's future amounts to sabotage of the rapidly expanding public and private climate action."

Turnbull says Labor waging nuclear scare campaign

Why Zero Emissions Now #1 (Before 2020)

Why Zero Emissions Now #2 (Before 2020)

For comment ring:
Adrian Whitehead - 0403 735 118
Matthew Wright ­ 0421 616 733

www.beyondzeroemissions.org

Beyond Zero Emissions is an independent Zero Emission Minus Climate Change campaign.