Have your say on the draft carbon price legislation

The reason for all this fuss is that the government, by releasing the actual legislation (rather than just making a statement about the fact that the Government wants to put a price on pollution),  is showing us all the nitty gritty detail of how the carbon price will actually work.

The legislation might make for pretty boring bed time reading, but it includes all the important details like what the price will cover, how renewable energy will be supported, what assistance different industries will get, and lots of other technical things.

So when is the Government planning to actually start the carbon price?

 

The government will likely introduce the legislation into Parliament in September, and the legislation needs to gain majority support from members in both the lower and upper house to become law.

With support already pledged by the Independents and Greens in the House of Representatives, and the Greens in the Senate, the Government hopes to have the legislation passed through Parliament by the end of the year. This means it would take effect from July 1st, 2012.

How you can get involved

 

But before all of this happens, there is one last opportunity to give the Government our thoughts on the legislation. A consulation process, allowing you to make submissions, is runing until August 22nd.

This is our last chance to tell Government that we support their plan to price pollution, because it makes the big polluters pay for the pollution that they produce and invests in renewable energy. But industry, business and the big polluters will be also be making their submissions, aiming to weaken the final legislation.

To make sure our government can see the broad public support for a price on pollution, we need lots of individuals making submissions in their own words. This is where you can help.

How do I make a submission?

A submission is simply a letter that you email to the Government. You can write it in your own words, and don’t worry if you don’t know all the nitty gritty details.

1. I support a price on pollution because it makes polluters pay for the carbon pollution they produce
2. I support the $10 billion funding for renewable energy and the establishment of an independent body to oversee how it is spent.
3. I support the government increasing their emission reduction target to 80% by 2050.  But I also want to see an ambitious 2020 target, in line with what the latest climate science says is needed.

Some extra points you might want to include:

1. I support the review by the AEMO to assess the possibility of achieving a transition to 100% Renewable Energy but think it needs to be concluded by mid-2014.
2. I do not support any of the $10 billion funding for renewable energy going to gas power plants or any fossil fuel technology.
3. The legislation does not show how Australia will contribute to the international effort to provide funding and support to the nations who are most threatened by climate change and least able to adapt to its impacts. I strongly support Australia announcing how it will contribute fair share of climate finance between 2012-2020 in the lead up to the next UN climate talks in Durban December.