Australian PM urges support for carbon trading scheme
Updated
Australia's prime minister, Kevin Rudd, has urged the opposition to dispense with, what he calls, short term politics, and support the government's carbon trading scheme.
The opposition has attacked the government's plan, warning it will eventually lead to an extra tax on petrol.
The government is expected to introduce legislation for its carbon trading scheme in March next year.
Mr Rudd says the coalition should act in Australia's interests and support the government.
"I would appeal to the Liberals to either adopt a responsible course of action for the Australian economy and be partners in getting this right for the long term future, as opposed to playing short term irresponsible politics because frankly it's not going to get us anywhere," he said.
The Australian government plans on introducing the carbon trading scheme in two years.
Under the scheme, the government sets an overall limit on the amount of carbon the economy can produce and then provides permits to industry up to the nominated amount.
Companies can then trade their permits, meaning carbon-intensive industries must pay extra if they want to exceed their allocation, a system the government believes will provide a market-based incentive to reduce pollution.
Consultation
The Australian government says businesses and the community will be given every opportunity to comment on its emissions trading scheme before it is finalised.
Submissions on the government's discussion paper will close in September, but economic modelling about the appropriate cap for emissions won't be released until October.
The opposition says the government should extend the submission deadline so the modelling can be taken into account before the draft legislation is released at the end of the year.
But the climate change minister, Penny Wong, says there will be a continual process of consultation.
"We will release that modelling publicly. We will enable people to provide responses to that. We will consult on that and that will occur prior to the release of the white paper," she said.
"Can I remind people again that there will also be consultation on the white paper and the draft legislation."
