COALITION PLAN WILL SAVE LOCAL JOBS AND PROTECT AGRICULTURE: MIRABELLA

21-October-2009

The Coalition has proposed a series of common sense amendments to lessen the impact of Labor’s flawed and rushed carbon emissions trading scheme on Australian industry, agriculture, regional small businesses and consumers.

 “Our amendments will save local jobs and limit increases in electricity prices for local small businesses while still achieving the same carbon reduction targets,” explained Sophie Mirabella MP, Federal Member for Indi.

 “Our package of amendments shows Labor’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) can be made smarter and cheaper by delivering the same environmental benefits with less severe economic costs,” said Mrs Mirabella.

 Importantly, the Coalition’s package protects farmers by exempting agriculture from the CPRS altogether.  “This amendment is of crucial importance to the Coalition.  We need to protect agriculture from the uncertainty of Labor’s CPRS.”

 “Agriculture is fundamental to the economy of North East Victoria and my Coalition colleagues agree that this must be protected.”

 “Our amendments allow for agricultural offsets which include carbon sequestration in soils and vegetation, providing an opportunity for financial and land management benefits for local land holders,” Mrs Mirabella continued describing this Coalition amendment as, “a win-win for farmers and the environment.”

 The Coalition have also sought to protect key export industries, including coal mining, food processing, natural gas and aluminium, in the proposed amendments, saving thousands of Australian jobs under threat of moving off-shore under Labor’s scheme.

 The Coalition will ensure voluntary initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by individuals, businesses and community groups are recognised and measured, contributing to a reduction of national carbon emissions. 

 Furthermore, the Coalition will continue to advocate an intensity-based cap and trade approach to the electricity sector.  This approach more than halves the initial increase in electricity prices reducing the economic costs of achieving emissions cuts on regional small businesses.

 “Our amendments are realistic and achievable.  They meet the objective of reducing Australia’s carbon emissions while saving jobs, cushioning the impact of the CPRS on regional small business and protecting the future of agriculture and industry in North East Victoria.”

 Mrs Mirabella concluded, “I am pleased that we are doing something positive for the people of rural and regional Australia.”