Page 5239 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 18 November 2009
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One change the commonwealth did make to the carbon pollution reduction scheme was to accredit GreenPower as an additional reduction in the greenhouse gas target. That is, any green energy purchased by ACT through GreenPower that is above the 2009 level will directly reduce the carbon pollution reduction scheme cap. Accreditation of the ACT’s actions, in addition to GreenPower, is a key way for the carbon pollution reduction scheme to achieve additional reductions in Australia’s greenhouse gas target. The government will continue to raise the ACT’s concerns with the commonwealth. The legacy of today’s political leaders will be shaped by what we are prepared to do on climate change for the benefit of future generations. The ACT has an opportunity to build broad political consensus on climate change. The inquiry into greenhouse gas reduction targets has played, and will continue to play, an important role in building this consensus.
Political consensus builds confidence within the community. Minister Corbell, in making brief comments when the inquiry interim report was tabled on 15 September, stated:
And a consensus position is essential if we are to get on with the very difficult and hard work of reducing greenhouse gas emissions … changes of policy that will be required, the changes in behaviour that will be required, to achieve zero net emissions for our city.
However, I note that any consensus on this issue was very quickly under threat from the Liberal opposition yesterday. They cannot help themselves. They cannot come to grips with the reality of climate change and embrace the critical steps that the territory must take, just like their colleagues on the hill. The ACT opposition say that people will not take a 50-year plan on carbon emissions targets for Canberra seriously. The leader of the opposition has also been quoted as criticising the government’s emission reduction targets, claiming they are empty promises. Where is your commitment and that of your colleagues, Mr Seselja?
The government has announced its intent to set a medium term and greenhouse gas reduction target in the range of 25 to 40 per cent by 2020 in the first half of 2010 and this will be included in the proposed greenhouse gas reduction targets legislation. We are not shying away from the importance of this. Our preference, as stated by my colleague Minister Corbell yesterday, is to set a target as high as possible. However, we do need to look at several factors.
The committee’s recommendation clearly states that it supported a 40 per cent reduction, notwithstanding a range of issues that need to be considered. My government are doing this work. We will be looking at the final shape of the CPRS. We will look at the outcomes in Copenhagen. Additionally, and very importantly, we will look at the cost curve of the various options. We will look at the policy mix. We will look at the right combination of policies to ensure social equity, economic impacts and the important environmental considerations.
This government is proud of its record in implementing policies and measures to address climate change. The government’s weathering the change strategy and action
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