Price on Pollution rally

The 2011 Price on Pollution rally was a public rally comprised of people demonstrating their support for the Federal Government's proposed framework for a price on carbon pollution. The rally occurred at 11am on the 12th of March, 2011, at Treasury Place, Melbourne, Australia and was attended by an estimated 7,000-10,000 people.

The rally was organised less than 1 week prior to the event, predominantly by Get Up! and other community organisations including; Environment Victoria, the Australian Conservation Foundation, Greenpeace, the Australian Youth Climate Coalition and the Climate Action Network of Australia. No corporate funding was used to organise or promote the event.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Mark Dreyfus, was interviewed in relation to the rally, explaining; "The big numbers at the rally demonstrate strong support for action on climate change."

A rally in opposition to a price on carbon was organised for the same day at 10:30am, outside Prime Minister Julia Gillard's electorate office in Werribee, to which 100-200 people attended.

Background

In February 2011, the Australian government led by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, announced a framework for a fixed price on carbon to be introduced on July 1, 2012, lasting 3-5 years before being replaced by an emissions trading scheme. The news was initially reported on as being a positive step forwards for action on climate change, though an obvious diversion from pre-election campaigning platforms for the Labor party. A public relations campaign began in opposition to a price on carbon, led primarily by the opposition government, conservative print, online and radio media.

The Price on Pollution rally was spontaneously organised in response to this manufactured opposition. "Australians have been waiting for four years for the Labor government to deliver its promises to take action on climate change, and we don't want our parliamentarians thinking that a vocal minority of negative naysayers speak for Australia - so we're taking to the street and making our voice heard." said Get Up! campaigns director Sam McLean. A rally in opposition to a price on carbon was organised for the same day at 10:30am, outside Prime Minister Julia Gillard's electorate office in Werribee, to which 100-200 people attended.

See also

• Climate Change
• Carbon tax