Voter concern about climate change and Greens’ preferences have helped Federal Labor to a decisive victory.

The Nationals won 10 seats, with only 5.5 per cent of the nation’s vote, yet the Greens at 7.5 per cent, ended up with no representatives.

However, the influence of the green vote has not gone unnoticed by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as he quickly moves to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and implement new climate change policy. Creating a separate Ministry on Climate Change for Penny Wong sends a powerful signal on the importance of this issue.

Questions still persist as to how much leadership the new Environment Minister Peter Garrett will be allowed as the Government slowly removes his election masking tape.

Then of course there is the proposed Traveston Crossing Dam. This looming decision presents an opportunity to test not only the new Government’s environmental resolve but also its ability to make independent decisions in the best long-term interests.  A decision to reject this insanity on the Mary River could even gain federal bi-partisan support.

A big opportunity now exists for the Federal Government to establish consistent environmental policy targets across all States.  Whether it is on climate change, waste management and recycling, environmental offsets or species protection, the time is right to stop the blame game.

This would mean a welcome rewrite of the Queensland Government’s Climate Smart 2050 and the subsequent inclusion of meaningful targets and investments in renewable energy, bringing some balance to the present coal industry domination of greenhouse policy.

For green voters, the new government may be a case of “my enemy’s enemy is my friend”.