Big business will head the discussion on how to implement a carbon tax in Australia; a situation causing concern in some sectors.
CEOs and executives from energy and mining giants like BHP, Shell, Rio Tinto, and Woodside Petroleum will join other power players in the Australian market to chair a round table advisory board set up by the Gillard Government.
The group will be asked to make recommendations to the government on the introduction of a carbon tax, with a specific ”focus on the importance of the introduction of a carbon price to supporting a sustainable economy, supporting jobs growth and safeguarding our environment.”
Treasurer Wayne Swan announced the “big business round table” today. It comes after the government scrapped its much-derided “citizen’s assembly” of 150 community members who would look into climate change solutions.
There are some, however, who don’t believe those industries which stand to lose the most under a carbon tax should be the ones helping to design it.
Max Sylvester, co-founder of national solar energy solutions provider, Energy Matters, says he is worried the “big business round table” will just become a “round table of big beggars.”
“For a carbon tax to truly make a significant difference on carbon emission levels, revenue raised from the tax needs to be funnelled back into renewable energy projects, not into concessions for energy intensive industries and big polluters,” Mr Sylvester said.
Mr Sylvester agreed that a putting a price on carbon was an effective way to combat climate change.
“I welcome the government’s attitude on this issue,” he said. “My only concern is that more needs to be done in the way of support for our renewable sector. Australia has vast solar power potential that is being neglected. A carbon tax that supports our clean energy economy could really kick-start another powerful engine in the Aussie market.”
