The Chair of the Climate Change Authority Mr Bernie Fraser expressly said in his statement of 2 July 2015:
“The Climate Change Authority has confirmed its preliminary recommendations to the Government that, at the forthcoming Paris Conference, Australia should commit to:
i. a target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent below 2000 levels by 2025; and
ii. further reductions of between 40 and 60 per cent below 2000 levels by 2030.”
The ALP has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to the CCA recommendations. Indeed, Amendment 249A passed at the ALP Conference stated:
“Labor will adopt post 2020 pollution reduction targets, consistent with doing Australia’s fair share in limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius. Labor will base these targets on the latest advice of bodies such as the independent Climate Change Authority”
In February 2014 the CCA released ‘Reducing Australia’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Targets and Progress Review – Final Report’ and the Australian Treasury and Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education ‘Climate Change Mitigation Scenarios Modelling report provided to the Climate Change Authority in support of its Caps and Targets Review
The report and modelling clearly show that if the ALP were to confirm its embrace of the CCA recommendations to the lower end of the scenario of an emission reduction of 44% of 2000 levels by 2030, a cumulative loss to GDP between 2013 and 2030 of $633 billion (Source: Chart 3.32 (nominal conversion)).
The CCA’s recommendation for a reduction of between 40-60 per cent below 2000 levels by 2030 was clear and Labor’s adoption of this was clear.
Labor is now trying to deny their own commitment after learning that the modelling they commissioned showed how devastating it would be for Australian families and the economy.
The modelling clearly shows the cumulative hit to GDP from Labor’s carbon tax would be more than $600 billion by 2030 in nominal terms.
(ENDS)