Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Water) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, I am aware that a range of sectors of industry have put views to the government both publicly and privately about the way in which an emissions trading scheme should be designed so as to minimise the impact on those sectors of industry. These are matters that the government will consider over the time line I have announced today. As I made clear in my speech of 6 February, we are conscious particularly of three sectors. We have said that we need to consider the perverse incentives which the introduction of emissions trading may place on our trade exposed emissions intensive sector. We have also said that we will look at measures to address the impact on strongly affected industries. Finally, and importantly, we have also said measures will be developed to assist households, particularly low-income households. That is because the government is aware that this is a significant reform—the introduction of emissions trading is akin to the liberalisation of trade that this country went through in the last three decades. We recognise that this is essentially about economic transformation, and the government will take a careful and methodical approach to ensuring that we consider the impact on the Australian economy, on particular sectors and on households in how we design our scheme. I have outlined today a time line for consultation, including the release of a green paper. The range of issues that Senator Milne seeks advice on, and that I canvassed today, will be amongst those issues that the government will consider, and which will be covered by the green paper.