Fed: Opposition climate proposal "won't work": Combet

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2009
Fed: Opposition climate proposal "won't work": Combet

CANBERRA, Aug 10 AAP - An alternative plan to tackle climate change, to be unveiled
by the opposition on Monday, is too complex and won't work, says the federal government.

Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull reportedly will announce that the coalition wants
to have two schemes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

A cap-and-trade emissions trading scheme would be in place for most sectors of the
economy, while a separate scheme would cover the electricity sector.

Electricity generators would only have to pay for their emissions over a certain threshold,
meaning they would pay less overall.

Junior climate change minister Greg Combet says the coalition is clutching at straws.

"This will not work," he told reporters in Canberra, adding it was "too complex" to
have two schemes.

The electricity scheme would not work because it would not be able to meet the government's
target to reduce emissions.

The only way to meet the targets was to set a cap, and that meant a cap-and-trade emissions
trading scheme, Mr Combet said.

The government does not intend to offer any more compensation to the coal sector under
its proposed scheme, an issue which the minister has been discussing with industry chiefs.

"I've had consultations with the coal industry over a period of time, they haven't
led to an accommodation, Mr Combet said, adding the $750 million offer from the government
would "fill the bill".

Senate debate on government legislation setting up what it calls the carbon pollution
reduction scheme starts on Tuesday with a vote scheduled for Thursday.

AAP ca/rl/it

KEYWORD: CLIMATE COMBET

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