Senate Votes for Clean Energy Future

Tuesday, 8 November 2011

After twenty years of debate, the Federal Parliament today passed historic legislation to tackle climate change and move Australia to a clean energy economy.

Senator Louise Pratt, Senator for Western Australia said the Gillard Government’s Clean Energy Future (CEF) legislation would cut 160 million tonnes of pollution from the atmosphere by 2020, enabling Australia to meet its international commitment to cut emissions by 5 per cent on 2000 levels.

“That’s the equivalent of taking 45 million cars off the road and will enable Australia – as the highest per capita emitter of carbon dioxide in the developed world - to do its fair share to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions,” Senator Pratt said.

"There is no denying that Western Australia is very vulnerable to climate change. Our climate is getting hotter and parts of our state are getting drier. We have had a shocking decline in rainfall over the past 30 years."

“Today’s decision by the Parliament is about protecting our planet for future generations and ensuring we make the necessary investment in clean energy jobs and technology to assure Australia’s future prosperity.”

Senator Pratt said under the Government’s CEF Plan, around 500 of Australia’s biggest carbon polluters would pay a $23 carbon price from 1 July 2012.  She said half of the money raised - around $15 billion – would go towards providing income tax cuts and increases to support payments to help more than 8 million Australian households with the expected modest flow-on price increases for some goods and services.

Another $9.2 billion would provide assistance to high emitting, trade exposed industries under a new Jobs and Competitive Program aimed at supporting jobs and assisting these industries to transition to cleaner energy technologies.

Further assistance would be provided to small manufacturing industries, local councils and communities for eligible energy efficiency projects, while small business would benefit from an increase to $6500 in the instant asset write-off.

Senator Pratt said the Government’s CEF Plan represented the most significant economic and environmental reform in Australia in more than a decade.

“Climate change is a global problem requiring global solutions,” Senator Pratt said.

“Today Australia can stand proud in joining other countries which have put a price on carbon, or taken the necessary steps towards a lower carbon global economy.”

More information on the Government’s CEF Plan can be found at www.cleanenergyfutre.gov.au

Media contact: Alanna Clohesy Senator Pratt's office 0417 175 220

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