BREAZE

The death of CPRS shouldn’t mean an end to action on climate: BREAZE

Wednesday, 28th April, 2010

BREAZE has reacted with astonishment that the Rudd government has decided to delay any action on climate change until 2013. It has called instead for an interim carbon tax.

“When we met with Penny Wong earlier this year, she told us that getting a price on carbon was the only game in town and that we should support it,” said Andrew Bray, BREAZE Community Campaigner.

“Now, after two and half years of inaction, it seems the government is happy for a carbon price to go on waiting - for another three years.”

“Now that the failed CPRS policy has died the death it thoroughly deserved, the government has the opportunity to put in place a carbon levy that is much simpler and much more effective.”

The Greens are currently proposing an interim carbon levy of $23 per tonne of carbon, beginning this year. Low and middle income households will be compensated for any price rises. While there have been negotiations, they appear to have stalled for lack of interest from the government.

“All of the things Kevin Rudd and Penny Wong have said in the past about the need to act on climate change remain the same. It is still our greatest moral challenge and the cost of not acting is still far greater than the cost of acting.”

“None of this has changed, so why is the government no longer prepared to do anything about it?” questioned Mr. Bray.

“The government has the opportunity to put the price on carbon they’ve been arguing for for so long, so why aren’t they prepared to take it?”

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Media Enquiries:              Andrew Bray      0421 379 646