05-May-2009
Portfolio Media Releases, Emissions Trading Scheme
Topics: Rudd Government’s backdown on their ETS.
LYNDAL CURTIS: And not for the Liberal climate change spokesperson Andrew Robb.
ANDREW ROBB: In its current form we could not vote for this scheme. He has just tinkered with this scheme, the fundamental flaws are still there.
LYNDAL CURTIS: So why do it? The scheme up until yesterday was virtually friendless. The recession has made the prospect of business being ready more difficult so the concessions have finally one some business support. It puts a higher target out there while the world meeting the condition making a 25% target possible are very small a higher number gives something although a little something to those wanting the government to do more. The government has a small number of choices; negotiate with the Greens, the Coalition, or just the Liberals or effectively give the scheme away and pressing on without conceding ground. The Greens have moved from a 40% target to a range of 25 to 40 but say while they are willing to talk they won’t move anymore. The governments move looks aimed at the second option hoping business pressure and public pressure forces the Liberals to split from the Nationals and deal. The government has done polling in the last month that sources say that people want action. While they don’t understand the scheme they sit it as action and they to the surprise of some in the government strongly believe the economic crisis is not a reason for doing nothing. A source says business has similar research and also has banks pressing them for certainty. Andrew Robb isn’t yet conceding the pressure will force the Liberal Party to the table.
ANDREW ROBB: We see our responsibility is to protect jobs at the same time as seeing a reduction in CO2 emissions.
LYNDAL CURTIS: Do you think the public understand that though?
ANDREW ROBB: There is a growing awareness especially around the regions where a lot of the job impact will occur
LYNDAL CURTIS: There is some talk about the option of a double dissolution election where the government could argue it tried to do something about climate change but the Greens were too extreme and the Liberals intransigent. But one government sources says Kevin Rudd wants this scheme through because he wants to take it as Australia’s position to the Copenhagen talks later this year.
Media Contact: Stuart Eaton, 0433 298 620