Within 24 hours of her swearing in, the Federal Government was signing a deal to export brown coal - the world's dirtiest, most greenhouse gas intensive fuel - to Vietnam.
The greenwash was coming in thick and fast from the Trade Minister Simon Crean, who said the technology used in this export deal would clean up the brown coal - when in fact it will make it as polluting as black coal - still a disaster in terms of emissions produced.
So far, Victoria has avoided the coal export curse, with all its associated health and environment impacts, which affects NSW and QLD. This deal is a step in the wrong direction. Australia is the world's biggest coal exporter and this makes us one of the biggest pushers of the fossil fuel drug which is causing global warming.
We must stop exporting coal as well as burning it within our own shores. Not only will this help avoid catastrophic climate change, a transition to renewable energy will create more jobs than it destroys and in the medium and long term provide a massive boost to the Australian economy.
Luckily this grubby deal did not go unnoticed. A group of people gathered at the Southbank hotel where the deal was signed, after being given only a few hours notice. The media coverage can be see here - The Age, ABC
It is crucial that the Australian public cuts through the spin coming from the Labor Party and judges Julia Gillard on her policies.
The children of the Khapi Community in Bolivia, where glacier retreat has robbed the community of its water and its livelihood.
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