| Crunch time for carbon price, says Gillard | ||||
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Laying out her agenda for the year in a speech to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia conference today in Sydney, the Prime Minister will warn that Labor "must walk the reform road" regardless of the limitations of minority government. She will nominate fiscal consolidation, cutting the company tax rate, superannuation and health reform, and the National Broadband Network, as key priorities. She is predicting a price on carbon will be the major debate of next year. "The parliament is now the master of its own destiny. But for the government, I say we must decide in 2011 on a way of pricing carbon that is supported by a broad enough consensus that it can be legislated," Ms Gillard will say. "Climate change was first discussed in our parliament in the 1980s. I promise you, no responsible decision maker will be able to say next year that they need more time or more information on climate change. In 2011, there will be nowhere to hide." Ms Gillard will also say incentives and proposals are required to tackle ageing of the population and unemployment. "And the government will be moving from discussion to decision," she says. Climate Change Minister Greg Combet will lead the Australian delegation at the 16th meeting of the Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Cancun, Mexico. "The world needs to take strong and credible action to move to a low-pollution future and limit global temperature increase to less than two degrees Celsius," Mr Combet said yesterday. "Australia seeks a legally binding outcome that includes as many countries as possible. To achieve lasting emissions reductions, all major emitters must be part of the global solution." A final international agreement is not expected at Cancun, but Canberra will work hard on key issues, including adaptation, reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, transparent reporting, and climate financing. Responding to reports that former maritime union heavyweight John Coombs was backing nuclear power following his experience with wind power schemes as a property owner at Crookwell, NSW, Mr Combet said wind power was not a silver bullet. "No one has ever suggested the wind power alone will be a silver bullet" for our energy needs and climate change, he said. "This is why a carbon price is essential to allowing all technologies to compete to give us least cost abatement in our economy." "(But) Australia has some of the best wind resources in the world and wind power will be an important part of meeting our growing need for power while reducing the carbon pollution from the electricity sector." Britain's chief scientist has dismissed hopes for a deal at the UN climate change conference starting today in Cancun,, and said people should start preparing for a warmer world. (By Samantha Maiden) Copyright 2010 News Limited.Source: The Australian Some rights for the image is reserved under Creative Commons license
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JULIA Gillard has declared Australia "must decide" on a way of pricing carbon next year, warning against waiting longer. 
