Govt. to introduce a carbon tax by 2012 and a full ETS by 2015

by **Rickster58** Sat Feb 12, 2011 4:47 am

The Australian Government is set to break a key election promise by introducing a carbon tax in 2012 and a full ETS. The following editorial is from the Weekend Australian 12/2/11.

JULIA Gillard plans to introduce a carbon price from July 1 next year and defy the Greens by insisting on compensation for the coal and electricity industries, in a move that will infuriate its minority government partner.

The Weekend Australian understands the Government will present its multi-party climate change committee next week with a plan for a fixed carbon price to operate from July 1, 2012, until about 2015-16 when the regime will move to an emissions trading scheme.

Labor is set to demand some "real-world compromise" from the Greens by insisting that compensation for energy-intensive industries such as electricity generation and trade-exposed industries remain close to that offered in the deal former prime minister Kevin Rudd hammered out with then opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull in late 2009.

The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, which Mr Rudd and his climate change minister at the time, Penny Wong, negotiated with the Coalition before Tony Abbott became Liberal leader, was defeated three times in the Senate in late 2009 and early last year.

The Greens rejected the scheme because it gave too much compensation to the coal and power industries and the target was too low.

The Coalition, under Mr Abbott, opposed any emissions trading scheme and is opposing a carbon tax as part of his campaign against "new taxes".

The Government's latest compensation stance will further antagonise the Greens after the Prime Minister cut a series of green programs to make savings for her $5.6 billion flood reconstruction package, including cash for clunkers, $234 million from the green car fund and capping solar hot water, solar flagships and green loans programs.

But the Government will seek to avoid a clash with the Greens over the scope of emissions reductions by presenting a preferred position that will not set a specific 2020 target or emissions trajectory.

Read more: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/climate/labor-to-impose-carbon-tax-next-year-ets-in-2015/story-e6frg6xf-1226004719022