THE HON GREG COMBET AM MP
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
Cabinet Secretary
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
GILLARD GOVERNMENT’S CARBON FARMING INITIATIVE A WIN FOR FARMERS
The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, welcomed the passage of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Bill 2011 through the House of Representatives today, describing it as a win for farmers, a win for Indigenous Australia and a win for the environment.
The Carbon Farming Initiative is a key part of the Gillard Government's climate change agenda. Under the Initiative, the Federal Government will help facilitate the sale of carbon credits on domestic and international markets, opening up new income streams for farmers and landholders across regional Australia.
Mr Combet said the Bill passed the House of Representatives today with support from the crossbenches, despite a bizarre eleventh hour decision by the Opposition to oppose the legislation.
This is an important step towards delivering a carbon offset scheme in Australia. We will now work to secure this Bill's passage through the Senate so that farmers and landholders can start reaping financial rewards from acting to tackle climate change, Mr Combet said.
We've consulted widely on developing this Initiative, with farmers, with Indigenous groups, with business and industry, and today's vote is recognition of that work and the significant benefits this Initiative will bring to our economy and to our environment.
Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Mark Dreyfus, joined the Minister in welcoming the passage of the legislation through the House, saying the Oppositions attempt to indefinitely delay the Bill has stripped them of all credibility on the issue of climate change.
The Opposition's been blowing hot and cold on the Carbon Farming Initiative, first calling on all sides of politics to embrace the proposal, and now at the eleventh hour capitulating to the views of the Nationals and walking away from that commitment, Mr Dreyfus said.
Given that the Opposition's so-called direct action plan has been entirely discredited as ineffective, expensive and unworkable, the Opposition should now get behind the genuine, lasting action that will be delivered under the Gillard Government's Carbon Farming Initiative.
The Government will now work to secure the passage of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Bill 2011 through the Senate to enable the Carbon Farming Initiative to commence later this year.
THURSDAY, 16 JUNE 2011
