13th Aug 2009, 11:06 AM – Senate Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 and related acts - Second Reading - Commit to reducing emissions

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Greens Senator Christine Milne. This means that the motion was rejected.

The motion was the following:

At the end of the motion ["That these bills be now read a second time"], add:

provided that the Government first commits to entering the climate treaty negotiations at the end of 2009 with an unconditional commitment to reduce emissions by at least 25 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 and a willingness to reduce emissions by 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 in the context of a global treaty.

Background to the bills

The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 was introduced as part of a package of six bills along with five other related bills to introduce the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.(Read more about the scheme on Wikipedia. ) This is an emission trading scheme designed to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in an effort to address climate change. The scheme gives effect to Australia's obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.

The design of the scheme has been criticised by the business community for threatening jobs and by environmentalists for not going far enough with its emission reduction targets.(Read more about these criticisms here.)

The six bills that were introduced as a package are called:

• the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009
• the Australian Climate Change Regulatory Authority Bill 2009
• the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Charges-Customs) Bill 2009
• the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Charges-Excise) Bill 2009
• the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Charges-General) Bill 2009
• the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2009

The five other related bills are called:

• the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS Fuel Credits) Bill 2009
• the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS Fuel Credits) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2009
• the Excise Tariff Amendment (Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme) Bill 2009
• the Customs Tariff Amendment (Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme) Bill 2009
• the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Amendment (Household Assistance) Bill 2009

References