Libs, Labor compete on green promises

The state Liberal Party has today confirmed it will spend more than $44 million on the environment if it wins the state election while Premier Alan Carpenter has pledged a further $33 million to protect the state's environment icons.

Just three days out from the state election the Liberal camp said funds will be used for initiatives to boost environmental and water sustainability including $13.5 million towards a feed-in tariff on renewable energy for homeowners.

The Liberals will also investigate the feasibility of extending the feed-in tariff scheme to small business and commercial premises.

The party will also commit $9 million towards a Kimberley Conservation Strategy, $3.8 million for the Great Western Woodlands management and protection and $6.5 million to expand the solar schools program.

Meanwhile the Labor party has pledged to conserve nine million hectares of crown land as part of its extra $33 million environmental funding package.

Mr Carpenter said a Labor government would protect the Great Western Woodlands, occupying a total of 16 million hectares in an area south of Paynes Find, to the north of Ravensthorpe and east to Balladonia.

It includes 20 per cent of all Australian native plant species and 30 per cent of the country's eucalypt species, vast precious metal deposits and the towns of Kalgoorlie, Norseman and Balladonia.

The promise is in keeping with Labor's conservation and alternative energy themes during the party's campaigning for Saturday's election.