NSW Govt wants extended free pollution rights in a national emissions trading scheme so it can sell its generators before economic disaster |
First 5 of 5 paragraphs shown Greens MLC John Kaye asked NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald, in the NSW Legislative Council on 28 February 2008 said as the New South Wales Government will continue to argue strongly for a national emissions trading scheme that does "not unduly penalise our energy industry", what does the term "not unduly penalise" mean? Does it include issuing permits for free, or at a subsidised price, and if so, for how many years? Show me the modelling: Kaye asked the Minister to further inform the House what his modelling, or that of his department, showed in respect of the impacts on the potential sale price of leases for the State's generators resulting from an emissions trading scheme as proposed by Professor Garnaut, including fully exposing them to emissions trading without special arrangement. Macdonald fears economic crisis: Ian Macdonald, NSW Minister for Primary Industries, replied we want to reduce carbon emissions but we have to do it in a rational way that does not send the economy of this State into freefall. I have no difficulty supporting the general comments of the Treasurer on that. I think all responsible people in this Parliament will be looking at how we achieve a national emissions trading scheme. Massive economic disruption risk: The Minister said I think the target is in the order of 60 per cent by 2050. We need to decide the areas of the economy to look at to ensure we do not have a massive economic disruption in this State. ...Log in to read rest of Article or image. |