LABOR REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO ETS.

Media Release

Date:  06 March 2014

Federal Labor has reaffirmed its commitment to ending the carbon tax as long as it’s replaced with an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) in the Senate today.

Labor voted against the Greens’ disallowance motion against the Government’s revocation of voluntary auction for carbon units.

“This entire episode has been nothing more than a political stunt by Tony Abbott and Greg Hunt,” Shadow Climate Change Minister Mark Butler said.

“Labor’s decision indicates neither Greg Hunt’s claims of victory nor Christine Milne’s claims of defeat.”

The facts are:  

• Labor’s Clean Energy Bill amendments propose a shift to an Emissions Trading Scheme by 1 July 2014
• The voluntary auction would have no impact on the introduction of Labor’s ETS
• It is clear business would not have participated in this auction, given the uncertainty in the market created by the Government’s attempt to dismantle Labor’s clean energy policy.

“Under existing legislation, a new auction can be undertaken almost immediately if the Government were to accept the expert advice that an ETS is the best way to combat climate change,” Mr Butler said.

“Labor remains committed to terminating the carbon tax provided that an effective plan to combat carbon pollution is put in its place,” Mr Butler said.

“The Government has no such plan and all the Parliamentary tricks in the world will not change that fact.”

“This was a ploy by Mr Hunt to distract Australians from the fact he has no climate change policy and he is pretending this manoeuvre will lead to Labor abandoning its ETS,” Mark Butler said.

“Labor will not change its position on this.”