EMISSIONS TRADING – AUSTRALIA

Old power stations under fire in ALP’s climate change plan

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Original article by Sid Maher
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 11-Apr-16

The Federal Opposition is developing a new climate change policy whose aims will include generating of 50 per cent of Australia’s energy via renewable sources by 2030. The policy is also believed to include measures to decommission coal-fired power stations, the progressive reintroduction of an emissions trading scheme and an inquiry into the nation’s electric power industry. However, the Opposition has ruled out a carbon tax.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. CLIMATE CHANGE AUTHORITY, PITT AND SHERRY CONSULTING ENGINEERS, GRATTAN INSTITUTE

Government’s carbon rules all gums, no teeth, say experts

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Original article by Mark Ludlow
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 3-Sep-15

Environment Minister Greg Hunt says new carbon emissions rules strike a balance between tackling climate change and giving businesses flexibility in their operations. Big polluters can be fined up to $A1.8 million, but Hunt says the scheme is not a revenue raiser and he hopes no company is penalised. Critics say the rules are too soft.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT, GRATTAN INSTITUTE, REPUTEX AUSTRALIA PACIFIC PTY LTD

Shorten loss on gay marriage

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 27-Jul-15

The Australian Labor Party’s National Conference has endorsed the policy of Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to turn back asylum-seeker boats. Meanwhile, conference delegates have voted in favour of giving Labor MPs a conscience vote on the issue of same-sex marriage, although this will be limited to the current and next term of parliament. Shorten has committed to legalising same-sex marriage within 100 days if Labor wins the next federal election. Labor’s policy on a renewable energy target and an emissions trading scheme were also endorsed.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NATIONAL UNION OF WORKERS, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF IMMIGRATION AND BORDER PROTECTION

Direct Action may go above and beyond on savings, says Hunt

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Original article by Geoff Winestock
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 3-Nov-14

Under the Kyoto protocol, the greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of the Australian Government is 5% of 2000 levels by 2020. Environment Minister Greg Hunt says this will easily be achieved or even surpassed due to the new compromise deal struck with the Palmer United Party in order to secure passage of the Direct Action legislation through the Senate. Opposition environment spokesperson Mark Butler counters that the effort will fall short by as much as 70%. A new emissions reduction fund worth $A2.2bn is being created

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, PALMER UNITED PARTY, UNITED NATIONS, CARBON MARKET INSTITUTE LIMITED, ENERGY EFFICIENCY COUNCIL INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN SUSTAINABLE BUILT ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL, COLES GROUP LIMITED, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW

Cheaper green permits

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Original article by Joanna Heath, Laura Tingle
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 25-Aug-14

Independent senator Nick Xenophon has proposed to allow Australian companies to purchase international carbon permits. The initiative is said to have the support of Environment Minister Greg Hunt, although a spokeswoman for Hunt has indicated that international permits are not on the agenda at present. However, the business sector favours allowing local companies to buy carbon permits from overseas

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, PALMER UNITED PARTY, CLEAN ENERGY COUNCIL LIMITED, REPUTEX AUSTRALIA PACIFIC PTY LTD, DEMOCRATIC LABOR PARTY

Hunt hints at global carbon permits

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Original article by Joanna Heath
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 23-Jul-14

The Federal Government may allow Australian companies to purchase a limited number of international carbon permits. Independent senator Nick Xenophon says he has held talks with Environment Minister Greg Hunt about potential changes to the Coalition’s Direct Action policy. Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox supports such a move. However, Hunt says changes to the Direct Action policy are not on the agenda

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT|THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP|AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY|AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET|PALMER UNITED PARTY

Carbon tax set for scrap heap as Palmer finalises ETS details

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Original article by Lisa Cox, James Massola, Tom Arup
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: 5 : 9-Jul-14

There was further discussion in the Australian Senate on 8 July 2014 of the Federal Government’s legislation to repeal the carbon tax, with a vote now expected by 9 July. While the Australian Labor Party and Australian Greens are opposed, Prime Minister Tony Abbott will be able to pass the bill with the help of the Palmer United Party. However, in return it will extract a pledge to force electricity companies to pass on the savings in full and show them on bills sent to consumers. The Climate Change Authority will also be retained. Meanwhile Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party senator Ricky Muir wants to stop the abolition of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency as well

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, PALMER UNITED PARTY, AUSTRALIAN MOTORING ENTHUSIAST PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. CLIMATE CHANGE AUTHORITY, AUSTRALIAN RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY

Clive Palmer predicts an ETS will be law within a year

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Original article by Jacob Greber, Mark Ludlow
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 2 : 30-Jun-14

Clive Palmer says an emissions trading scheme (ETS) would protect the Australian economy against the adoption of similar schemes overseas. The carbon price in the ETS unveiled by the Palmer United Party will not increase above zero until Australia’s leading trading partners adopt ETSs as well. Palmer expressed faith that his ETS will be enshrined in law within one year. This suggests he will campaign on the proposal ahead of the next federal election

CORPORATES
PALMER UNITED PARTY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, CLIMATE INSTITUTE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

Palmer hijacks Abbott’s vow to repeal carbon tax

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1-Apr : 26-Jun-14

Australian MP Clive Palmer revealed the carbon policy of the Palmer United Party on 25 June 2014. Palmer said that he would keep his promise to repeal the carbon tax. However, he wants associated climate programs to be retained and the Federal Government’s "direct action" policy to be dropped. He also demands an emissions trading scheme. Former US vice-president Al Gore, who supports global action on climate change, appeared at Parliament House with Palmer

CORPORATES
PALMER UNITED PARTY, AUSTRALIA. CLEAN ENERGY FINANCE CORPORATION, AUSTRALIA. CLIMATE CHANGE AUTHORITY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY