NSW could win a substantial boost in jobs and economic activity from a carbon price if the O’Farrell government drops its hostility to renewable energy, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Dr Kaye said: “Premier Barry O’Farrell should immediately put the antiquated Munmorah power station on the state’s central coast onto the shortlist for the 2,000 MW of highly polluting coal generation to be shut down.

“Real jobs in clean energy will receive a massive boost from reducing fossil fuel generation as quickly as possible.

“The future of both Munmorah and Liddell in the Upper Hunter should be on the table immediately. New coal fired generation should be ruled out. (more…)

Commenting on today’s carbon price announcement, Greens NSW Senator Lee Rhiannon has welcomed the introduction of a price on carbon as an important step towards transforming the NSW economy and creating long term sustainable jobs growth and investment in the renewable energy sector.

“This an opportunity to kickstart the transition to a clean energy future for NSW and create new jobs in renewable energy,” Senator Rhiannon said.

“The scheme announced today sets up a price signal for cutting pollution while protecting NSW households from the impact of putting a price on carbon.

“It’s a very positive outcome for the country and the economic opportunities for NSW are far-reaching, along with the benefits for our rich food producing lands and coastal environment.

“One of the achievements of this package is an ongoing fund to conserve biodiversity worth $948 million over the first six years. (more…)

The Australian Greens, the Labor government and the Independent MPs today announced an historic agreement on a climate action package that will put a $23 per tonne price on carbon pollution, as was first proposed by The Greens, support householders and invest billions of dollars in clean, renewable energy.

This package, which The Greens have helped shape, is the first vital step towards tackling the climate crisis and building a cleaner, healthier, more secure Australia for all of us.

Major steps forward on emissions reduction targets, support for renewable energy, energy efficiency and landscape carbon, closing coal-fired power plants, limiting the use of international offsets and a floor price mean that pollution cuts that were pushed into the distant future under the government’s original plans will now be pulled forward into the next few years.

While a climate action package designed by The Greens would have been more ambitious straight away, what we have achieved is a firm foundation for the future. Where the Rudd government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme acted as a ceiling on action, constraining our efforts for decades to come, this carbon price package acts as a platform on which stronger action can be built in the years ahead. (more…)

The Productivity Commission will examine fuel excise with a view to shifting the tax base onto the carbon and energy content of fuel under an agreement to keep fuel out of the carbon price, the Australian Greens said today.

“The Greens have always said that this carbon pricing package needs to be a platform for stronger action into the future, and a detailed inquiry into Australia’s fuel tax regime is a critical part of that platform,” Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

“The mish-mash of policies which sees subsidies and taxes working against each other needs to be changed. The Greens have always said we need to drive less and drive more efficiently. The Greens have already delivered a first important step down this path by removing the incentive to drive further that was in the Fringe Benefits Tax concession. But there is much more to do. (more…)