Foley unveils environmental package

Labor will invest $150 million to create new national parks and will introduce a Sydney marine park if it wins the March 28 state election.

NSW Labor has unveiled what it calls the most comprehensive environmental protection package in Australian political history.

Opposition Leader Luke Foley says it includes $150 million to create new national parks, the creation of a Sydney marine park and $37 million to install energy efficient LED lights in hospitals.

"I am proud today to announce the most comprehensive environmental protection policy that any political party has ever put to the people anywhere in Australia," he told reporters in the Blue Mountains on Tuesday.

"This policy will act to protect our oceans, our marine environment as well as the terrestrial landscape."

He said he would introduce a commission tasked with improving the health of the state's rivers, while also legislating a 20 per cent renewable-energy target by 2020 for NSW.

Mr Foley also sought to make Premier Mike Baird's electricity privatisation plans, which Labor opposes, into an environmental issue.

"If Mr Baird and the Liberals and Nationals get their way and sell the electricity network, a private owner, naturally enough, will be interested in profit maximisation and won't be interested in acting to increase energy efficiency," he said.

"Only a public owner can do that."

A Labor government would also remove the coalition's restrictions for wind-farm developments.

Mr Foley claimed Mr Baird couldn't support strong environmental policies because he was "subject to the veto of the National Party".


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Source: AAP


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