28-May-2009
Portfolio Media Releases, Emissions Trading Scheme
Topics: Emissions Trading Scheme.
EMMA GRIFFITHS: The businessman Opposition leader has won some applause from the business sector over his stance that the emissions trading scheme should be delayed.
But the Government has put the pressure on both the Opposition and big business, warning that a delay may jeopardise the $12-billion worth of assistance already on the table for affected industries.
The Labor Party's parliamentary secretary for climate change Greg Combet says business will not want to have to go back to the drawing board.
GREG COMBET: Because the Liberal Party can't seem to come to a proper decision on its position concerning the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and therefore wants to delay it and is just looking for more excuses to delay it, it is creating tremendous uncertainty.
I mean if there is no legislation, then there is no assistance scheme for emissions intensive trade exposed industries that is available, that gives them the investment certainty that they need.
EMMA GRIFFITHS: That's not a way to find a solution, according to the Opposition's spokesman Andrew Robb.
ANDREW ROBB: This again just exposes the sort of political nature of the Government's approach to this issue. It is deeply disturbing that a government, when it is looking at biggest deliberate structural change in our history, would start to play these sorts of games.
Full transcript available at: http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2008/s2582022.htm
Media Contact: Stuart Eaton, 0433 298 620