Public still supports emissions scheme

Sydney Morning Herald
Monday 29/6/2009 Page: 4

TWO-THIRDS of voters support the Rudd Government's emissions trading scheme in a finding that will do little to ease pressure on the Opposition to deal with the scheme in the Senate before the end of the year. The latest Herald/Nielsen poll finds 65% support the scheme to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and 25% oppose it. Support for the scheme was virtually unchanged since the question was last polled a year ago, but opposition to it has risen by 10%age points as arguments against the scheme in the midst of an economic crisis have mounted.

However, progress over the weekend in the United States towards establishing a scheme has been seized on by the Government to step up the pressure on Mr Turnbull and the Opposition leader hinted yesterday the Coalition may now move earlier. The Government wanted the Senate to vote on the scheme last week but the Coalition sided with the independent senator Nick Xenophon to delay a vote until August 13.

Keen to avoid an early election on climate change, the Coalition believes nothing should occur until the new year, by which time other nations will have stated their intentions at an international conference at Copenhagen and the US will have settled on a scheme. At the weekend the US House of Representatives passed legislation for an emissions scheme, prompting the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, to say yesterday that Mr Turnbull was running out of excuses for delay.

Look at what is happening in the United States," Mr Rudd said. "Rather than voting not to vote, which is what the Liberals have done here, let's get on with the business of acting and getting things done." Mr Turnbull hinted during an interview on Ten Network's Meet the Press of proposing amendments in August. One change the Coalition would demand would be to treat the coal industry as an emissions-intensive, trade exposed industry, thus entitling it to free permits.

If the scheme is blocked by the Senate in August, and again three months later, the Government would have a trigger for a double dissolution. The most likely date for an early poll would be March and Mr Turnbull has told his party room the Coalition would most likely lose an election then. The Minerals Council of Australia said the US bill proposed a less harsh transition for industry and its passage "highlights the need for substantial changes" to Australia's scheme.

Of the 25% which the poll found opposed the scheme, 29% felt Australia should not go it alone" but wait for other nations. Another 25% felt it would damage the economy, 24% felt climate change was not a product of human activity, and 17% thought the cuts were inadequate.