Herald Sun
Monday 15/9/2008 Page: 9
BUYERS of environmentally friendly cars would get cash rebates while those buying gas guzzlers would have to pay more, under a proposal to be considered by state and federal governments. A government-commissioned discussion paper also suggests cutting registration and stamp duty charges for new light vehicles, based on their emission levels.
The discussion paper, prepared by the Australian Transport Council and the Environment Protection and Heritage Working Group, also suggests the inclusion of fuel consumption and CO2 data in new-vehicle advertisements and new environmental standards for vehicle manufacturing.
The transport sector is the nation's third-largest source of carbon pollution. There were claims yesterday that thousands of food manufacturing and processing jobs could be lost when carbon emissions trading begins. In a submission to the Department of Climate Change, the Australian Food and Grocery Council said sections of the industry might be unable to compete with imports.
In the absence of a global approach, any domestic emissions trading scheme that imposes costs will make domestic companies less globally competitive, and may well contribute to the relocation of the manufacturing base offshore, taking the emissions with it," it said.
Food processing is the nation's largest manufacturing industry, employing almost 200,000 people. An industry source said some companies had already begun considering moving overseas. The council wants a carbon price cap of $5 or $10 a tonne and consideration of a "border tax" on imports from countries without adequate greenhouse gas reduction policies.
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