Carbon Credit Trading Bill – a no goer

Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson told State Parliament tonight of widespread community concerns about climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.

Minister Wilson said there was growing global recognition of the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, from world leaders such as Al Gore, to people working at a grass roots level in their local community.

“A range of environmentally sustainable energy solutions are being pursued by governments around the globe and the Queensland Government is no exception. Indeed, in many cases, we’re leading the field,” Mr Wilson said.

“We’re working hard to address this very real threat to our environment with innovative energy solutions such as ClimateSmart 2050,” Mr Wilson said.

Minister Wilson told State Parliament that while the sentiments of the Voluntary Carbon Credit Trading Bill were understood, the Opposition had been silent on the issue, until now.

He said the Opposition proposal was flawed in a number of ways:

·There are many voluntary schemes already operating in Australia and overseas that companies are participating in;

·Their proposal requires substantial, detailed design on a range of complex problems to be finalised before implementation;

·Overseas experience has shown that government-based, voluntary schemes make it difficult to introduce a mandatory scheme; and

·A government-based, mandatory, industry-wide scheme is needed rather than a voluntary one that only applies to a minority of industry.

“The Opposition wants the government to set up a government-owned corporation to do what the private sector is already doing,” he said.

“The Opposition has devised a scheme without waiting for the Prime Minister’s Task Group on Emissions Trading report.

“The Prime Minister’s report reached the conclusion that a mandatory, domestic ‘cap and trade’ Emissions Trading Scheme should be introduced by 2012.

“To add to the Opposition’s woes, the State Governments’ National Emissions Trading Taskforce report is due this month.

“The Beattie Government is already working on a number of initiatives that will complement a future national and international approach to carbon reductions.

“These positive initiatives include renewable energy projects such as our $5 million contribution to the Townsville Solar City trial and our leading 13% Gas Scheme which requires large electricity retailers to source 13% of their power from gas-fired generation. The target has now been lifted to 18%.

“There’s also a 10% target for renewable energy by 2020,” Mr Wilson said.

“There’s our $14.5 million ‘Energy Choices’ package to help households and business save energy. And we’ve committed $300 million to support the development and demonstration of clean coal technologies.

“Now is the time for a mandatory approach to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“This has been made clear through the Prime Minister’s own Task Group on Emissions Trading and recent, scientific reports on climate change.

“A mandatory approach, like the one proposed by the National Emissions Trading Taskforce, has been internationally recognised as the most effective solution to this critical issue.

“Now is the time to tackle these significant climate change challenges.

“Clearly, we’ve moved beyond voluntary measures. We need mandatory measures to capture all of industry.

“And there’s no competitive advantage in taking part in a voluntary scheme. Everyone has to be in it to win it.

“A government-sponsored system needs to be mandatory and industry-wide, not voluntary and selective,” Mr Wilson said.

Media Inquiries:     Ellen McIntyre 3225 1819