LABOR REJECTS COALITION'S CLIMATE INACTION

Media Release

Date:  20 March 2014

Labor voted down the Government’s clean energy repeal bills in the Senate today, ensuring Australia continues to have an effective climate policy framework.

“Without a credible alternative, Labor cannot support the abolition of the existing clean energy policies,” Shadow Climate Change Minister Mark Butler said."

In the Senate on Monday, Labor proposed its policy to bring forward an emissions trading scheme to 1 July 2014.

“Our proposal to scrap the carbon tax and bring forward the ETS was defeated by the Government and the Greens,” Mr Butler said.

“Labor has been upfront about our intentions since before the 2013 election – we will repeal the carbon tax if there is a credible plan to address climate change."

“Along with the rest of the world, Labor knows the best alternative is an ETS."

“Australia cannot afford to do nothing on pollution."

“Direct Action is not a credible alternative.”

Economists the world over support market-based approaches such as emissions trading schemes as the most cost-effective measure to tackle climate change.

Labor’s amendments would have removed the carbon tax but retained a legislated cap on carbon pollution and brought an emissions trading scheme forward to 1 July 2014.

“In contrast to Labor’s ETS, Tony Abbott’s Direct Action policy will cost the taxpayer billions of dollars and won’t do enough to tackle climate change,” said Mr Butler.

“Respected former Treasury Secretary Ken Henry has called Direct Action ‘bizarre’ and last week said it would cost $4 billion to $5 billion a year – much more than is budgeted.”