Media release.
Mark Butler MP.
Australian
businesses have expressed alarm at Tony Abbott’s climate policy,
questioning whether it will actually work and calling for more
consultation and more certainty.
In
a submission to the Government, the Australian Industry Group (AIG)
said “there is a risk that the Emissions Reduction Fund does not deliver
the abatement outcomes sought,” and that, “there is no equivalent to an
emissions cap or other legal guarantee that the targets will be met.”
The
AIG called on the Government to adopt a market mechanism, identifying
it as the cheapest and most efficient way to drive down carbon
pollution. The group said, “bureaucratic or political decision making
are usually poor substitutes for the judgments of market actors
responding to price in light of their own circumstances.”
The
AIG also called on the Coalition to ensure Australia’s carbon pollution
reduction effort is in line with other major economies, stating that
consistent global action is fundamental to preserving Australian
competitiveness.
Emissions trading schemes are already in place in the UK, Germany, France, Korea, and parts of Canada and the United States.
“Tony
Abbott needs to come clean on his climate con and explain why he’s
pursuing an approach that won’t reduce carbon pollution, but will cost
business and households more,” Shadow Minister for Climate Change Mark
Butler said."
“There
is not one credible economist or expert who thinks Direct Action will
work. Economists and climate scientists across the world are all agreed
that an emissions trading scheme – a market-based mechanism with a legal
cap on carbon pollution – is the cheapest and most effective way to
reduce pollution and provide certainty for business."
“Now
we see that the Ai Group, which represents more than 60,000 Australian
businesses, is also wary of the cost impact of Tony Abbott’s climate
con."
“Last
week, Alan Kohler told us that Treasury had estimated the cost of
Direct Action as costing the taxpayer $10 billion a year!"
“And
today, we hear that just 12 per cent of Australian voters believe that
Tony Abbott’s dud policy of paying polluters with taxpayer’s money will
work.
“Tony Abbott’s policy has been exposed as a complete con.
“This is not the government they told Australian businesses and families they would be.”
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