Media Release
Mark Butler MP.
Shadow Minister for EnvironmentClimate Change and Water
Date: 27 May 2014
The
Department of the Environment has admitted they are unsure of the
effectiveness of the Abbott Government’s woeful Direct Action climate
policy, despite committing more than $2.5 billion of taxpayer money for
the scheme.
In
yesterday’s Senate Estimates Hearing of the Environment and
Communications Committee, the Department was also unable to answer
specific questions about the design of the Emissions Reduction Fund,
despite legislation having been released, funding allocated and the
Government declaring its unwavering confidence in the policy.
“Each
day it becomes clearer that this policy is nothing more than an
ideological opposition to serious action to reduce carbon pollution from
a Government that doesn’t accept the science of climate change,” Shadow
Climate Change Minister Mark Butler said.
When
asked about how much of the Government’s 5% emissions reduction target
the Direct Action policy will achieve, Department officials responded
that without the Emissions Reduction Fund’s design being settled, they
were unable to provide any certainty on its success.
When
asked to produce any evidence or modelling that supports the
Government’s claims of guaranteed success, the Department was unable to
produce anything.
The
evidence was interrupted by the Government’s representative on the
panel, Senator Simon Birmingham, who repeatedly defended the lack of
robust policy development on the basis of his own personal ‘confidence’
in the policy.
“No one outside the Government seems to share Senator Birmingham’s confidence,” Mr Butler said.
“After
four years of policy development and a public commitment of up to $2.5
billion, the Government appears not to have done any meaningful research
to prove this policy is anything more than a complete waste of
taxpayers’ money,” Mr Butler said.
“All
the experts in this area have been scathing in their criticism of this
inadequate policy that amounts to little more than a dressed up slush
fund.
“If
Environment Minister Greg Hunt and Senator Birmingham have modelling to
suggest otherwise, now would be a good time to release it, as the
legislation will be introduced to the Parliament any day now.”
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