The Nationals Federal Member for Mallee John Forrest says Australians are all keen to their bit in reducing their environmental footprint.
“I always worry about government-knows-best edicts on how we’ll reduce emissions when we can involve all Australians and encourage clever and innovative thought and practical solutions to reduce our impact on the environment,” Mr Forrest said.
“The Coalition’s user-friendly plan released this week will foster this co-operative approach to a recognised challenge.
That is a far better than the big stick and tax on everything proposed by Rudd Labor.
“Australians are an innovative lot and I’m sure there’ll be a lot more discussion now the Coalition has put its plan on the table. What we now need is for Rudd Labor to explain the detail of their Emissions Trading Scheme and the real costs to households and families. Australians want to know about the Rudd plan but the Prime Minister has repeatedly refused to explain the detail of his ETS, or debate its merits in public.
“What is certain is that carbon trading, like any other financial instrument, will attract traders seeking the cream of a quick profit that has nothing to do with helping reduce emissions.
“Australians want practical hands-on solutions to reducing their environmental footprint, not a fancy emissions trading scheme that has no guarantee of success.”
Mr Forrest said the Rudd Government is deceiving Australians by maintaining its ETS is cheaper than the Coalition’s proposal.
“Over 10 years ours costs a little over $10 billion as opposed to the $114 billion money-go-round of Labor’s three-line ETS Policy,” he said.
“In addition, Labor’s ETS has more complexities and unknowns than a flea bitten dog has fleas.”
Mr Forrest said under the Coalition plan, instead of a “cap” on emissions, businesses that undertake activity with an emissions level above their ‘business as usual’ levels will incur a financial penalty. The value of penalties will be on a sliding scale at levels commensurate with the size of the business and the extent to which they exceed their ‘business as usual’ levels.
Financial incentives will be available to those who take direct action to reduce their CO2 emissions below their baseline levels. Provision will be made to ensure penalties will not apply to new entrants or business expansion at ‘best practice’.
“Let the discussion begin,” Mr Forrest said.
“The Coalition plan is for the hands-on Australians, and the Rudd Plan is for the dreamers who hope their big tax will work.”
Media contact: John Forrest (03) 5032 4510
