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IN a week that will be dominated by debate over the Rudd Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, Climate Change Minister Penny Wong could, at a stroke, promote the cause of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and help stimulate the domestic economy.
The Government cynically bolted its Renewable Energy Target legislation to its CPRS because ministers claimed business wanted consistency and certainty on what levels of assistance would be provided for trade-exposed industries. This was always a flimsy piece of political convenience. Now, two days before the vote is taken on these coupled Bills, it is exposed as a hollow contrivance.
Business groups such as the Business Council of Australia, the Aluminium Council and the Clean Energy Council have joined individual wind, solar and geothermal power producers in demanding the RET legislation be voted on discretely.
Manufacturers of alternative energy devices are ready to start their engines, providing jobs and economic activity sorely needed in times of very slow growth. The need to decouple these related but individually sustainable, equally important, measures is all the more necessary because there is now almost no chance of the CPRS gaining Senate approval on Thursday.
While the Government’s scheme remains contentious
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