In the run up to the Emissions Measurement Conference in a couple of weeks time, Parliament have finally approved the carbon emissions scheme, with the Senate voting 36 to 32 to pass the 18 bills yesterday.
This means that the carbon pricing regime will start in July next year and businesses have no other alternative than to get prepared for the carbon tax and comprehend what it means for their future. Therefore, this conference is perfectly timed for businesses to get prepared for next July and fully understand what it means to be compliant as well as adding value to their organisation.
Find out more about the 2nd Emissions Measurement Conference 2011 here.
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Pic courtesy of news.com.au
Full article below (thank you news.com.au)
PARLIAMENT today approved a new era of environmental and economic management, 27 years after climate change was first mentioned in Parliament, seven years after the first moves to penalise carbon emissions.
Julia Gillard called it history-making; Tony Abbott said it was a betrayal.
“This history-making vote turns years of discussion into a reality,” the Prime Minister said.
Ms Gillard said that from today Australia would address the problems of climate change including “extreme weather” such as big floods and storms.
She said it was the right thing for the nation’s future and would provide jobs for our children.
Ms Gillard dismissed Opposition threats as “huffing and puffing” and questioned whether a Coalition government would repeal the laws.
“All of that is to disguise the fact they have their fingers crossed behind their backs,” she said.
Treasurer Wayne Swan said it was a victory for optimists and a defeat for nay-sayers and praised the tough-as-nails stance of the Prime Minister.
However, not all agreed.
Abbott blasts “toxic tax” from London
The Prime Minister and her Government have “confirmed in law their betrayal of the Australian people,” Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said.
He again vowed to end it by getting a mandate at the next election.
The Opposition leader issued a statement from London blasting passage of the “toxic tax” which was “based on a lie from a Prime Minister who promised six days before the last election there will be no carbon tax under the Government I lead”.
“This new tax is a blow to the future of Australian manufacturing and a new burden for families struggling under cost-of-living increases. The tax will increase but the so-called compensation will not.”
Mr Abbott said the Government’s own figures showed three million Australian households will be worse off under the scheme and many dual-income families will be worse off.
“The longer this tax is in place, the worse the consequences for the economy, jobs and families. It will drive up the cost-of-living, threaten jobs and do nothing for the environment,” he said.
“In the absence of action by other nations, all that the Gillard Government has done today is export jobs and emissions overseas. Julia Gillard has no mandate from the people for this new tax.
“At the next election, I will seek a mandate from the Australian people to repeal this tax.
“The Coalition’s position is principled, it is clear to all and it will free the economy from the red tape, costs and job losses that the carbon tax will produce.”
“Let the voice of money do the talking”
Independent Rob Oakeshott, who will have to defend his backing for the new laws at the coming election, said it was time for politicians to get out of the way.
“There is a lot of investment money waiting to come into the domestic market alongside what is already happening in international carbon trading,” Mr Oakeshott said.
“I am excited by the enthusiasm of many people in business who are ready to hit the go button.
“Without doubt, there is a lot of market interest in the Emissions Trading Scheme, and it is now time for the dispassionate voice of money in a free-market economy to do the talking.”
There were cheers and applause from the Senate gallery and grumpiness on Opposition benches after the chamber voted on what Liberal Senator Eric Abetz called the “Orwellian-named” Clean Energy Future bills.
The figures
After 26 hours of debate the 18 bills were passed in a division 36-32, with Labor and the Greens siding against the Opposition, independent Nick Xenophon and the DLP’s John Madigan.
It is now certain that the carbon pricing scheme will be the central issue at the next election, no matter the party leaders, with the Coalition determined to scrap the laws.
The new legislation will penalise big companies for carbon pollution emissions at a fixed rate of $23 a tonne for three years, with the market to set the size of the penalty after that.
Industry is expected to pass on to consumers the cost of cleaning up production, and the Government has a range of compensation payments for low and medium income earners.
Greens Leader Bob Brown said the package of laws was “timid and short of the mark” but forecast: “People 50, 500 years from now will thank us.”
The Nationals Barnaby Joyce had a grimmer forecast: “People will be poorer.”
The carbon pricing regime will start in July next year but the first many Australians will be directly aware of it will be in May and June when advance compensation payments will be made to those on welfare.
About 1.9 million families and about 3.4 million pensioners will receive an increase in their payments, and more than 7.5 million people will receive a tax cut under the compensation scheme to cover rises in household expenses.
The Government will provide part of the first year’s assistance as an up-front payment to to those receiving household assistance through pensions and family payments.
Each Clean Energy Advance payment will cover a period of six, nine or 12 months, depending on the indexation cycle of the payment.
People will then start receiving fortnightly Clean Energy Supplements along with their regular Government payments immediately after the end of the period covered by their Advance payments.
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