30-April-2009
Portfolio Media Releases, The Economy, Emissions Trading Scheme
PRESENTER: As the Prime Minister sits down with Premiers to talk climate change today the Opposition has released a report it commissioned into Labor’s emissions trading scheme saying it confirms all of the Coalition’s fears. The report finds Kevin Rudd’s plan to be potentially threatening to the balance sheets of key industries in Australia and it doesn’t assess the economic impact of the first 20 or 30 years of the scheme. The Government concedes it will need the Coalition and Mr Turnbull’s help to get its legislation through the Senate. From Canberra Alex Kirk reports.
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ALEX KIRK: The Liberals aren’t budging either. Today they’re releasing the Pearce Review – an independent economic study commissioned to help finalise the Coalition’s climate change position. Emissions trading spokesman Andrew Robb says it confirms the Government is flying blind.
ANDREW ROBB: The report establishes that the Government is rushing head long into a scheme with no idea how many jobs will be destroyed, no idea how it will affect different industries or regions or even whether the scheme is the best option available – in other words the next 20 years is a black hole involving massive risk and uncertainty.
ALEX KIRK: But Greg Combet maintains the report’s broadly supportive of Kevin Rudd’s carbon reduction blueprint, at the same time accusing the Liberals of extraordinary economic recklessness for refusing to announce their emissions policy. Andrew Robb’s indicated the Opposition will insist on substantial changes, warning the Government it can’t afford to ignore this critic.
ANDREW ROBB: The Government haven’t seen the report for one. They need to look at what is in this report and act on it or otherwise they’ll have no hope of getting support for their scheme.
PRESENTER: The Opposition’s Emissions Trading spokesman Andrew Robb ending that report from Alex Kirk in Canberra.
Media contact: Stuart Eaton, 0433 298 620.