E&OE….
Topics: Australia’s 2030 emissions reduction target, marriage equality
WALEED ALY:
To talk more about today's announcement, we're speaking now with Environment Minister, Greg Hunt. Minister, thank you very much for joining us.
GREG HUNT:
Good evening Waleed.
WALEED ALY:
The headline figure is 26 per cent as the target. But when you dig deeper it seems that the real figure should actually be 19 per cent because the new target's based on a 2005 level of emissions, which was higher than the 2000 baseline that has normally been used as a standard. So shouldn't we be more honest and say it's 19?
GREG HUNT:
No, with respect, we should be very proud of what we're doing. We are one of the few countries in the world to have met and beaten our first round of international targets and being on track to meet and beat our second round. Now, what we've done for the period out of 2030 is use exactly the same basis as the vast majority of countries internationally.
So we are moving from a minus 5 per cent target to a minus 26 to 28 per cent. The United States is minus 26 to 28 per cent for a similar but not identical period. Japan is minus 25 per cent, Korea is minus 4 per cent and New Zealand and Canada are just above us. And so we're in a very good situation.
WALEED ALY:
But it isn't our current target based on 2000 levels? Our current target is based on 2000 levels, is it not?
GREG HUNT:
Well, our current target has been…
WALEED ALY:
Right.
GREG HUNT:
…and the world as a whole is moving to a 2005 base. United States is using 2005, Canada is using 2005, New Zealand is using 2005, Japan is using 2005. So it's right and proper and appropriate.
WALEED ALY:
Okay, so I understand the point, I'm just trying to compare our old target with this new target.
GREG HUNT:
Well, it's a very significant change from minus 5 per cent to minus 26 to minus 28.
WALEED ALY:
Okay, Minister…
GREG HUNT:
…and what's interesting here is that of all the countries in the world- in the developed world – we have the highest reduction on a per capita or per person basis. A 50 per cent reduction for each and every person watching. And that's a more ambitious goal than any other comparable economy, which is something people should be proud of.
WALEED ALY:
Well, we'll see what the world makes of that when you meet in Paris and we'll see what their commentary is. Just on the way we're going to achieve this…
GREG HUNT:
Sure.
WALEED ALY:
…you've got a direct action policy at the moment. It's delivering a 5 per cent reduction, that's the aim, and you say we're on target to meet it. But it's doing that at a cost of around $2.5 billion. So does that mean if we want to achieve this 26 per cent, it's actually going to cost us $13 billion?
GREG HUNT:
Ah no, that's not correct. What we're doing here is something which should cost about $200 million a year in terms of contribution, the Prime Minister outlined that today. If you take that from 2018 to 2030 that's about $2.4 billion over a 12 year period. We're doing it without a massive electricity tax, without a massive hit on the cost of living for Australians.
There's a very clear path, a positive path of doing this through incentives which are working. An incredibly efficient and successful Emissions Reduction Fund, compared with an electricity tax which would hit each and every one of your viewers, especially those on lower incomes – they'd be paying much higher electricity prices under the alternative model from the ALP.
FIFI BOX:
Minister, at the press conference today the Foreign Minister seemed to be in the driver's seat. Why was that given that you're the Environment Minister?
GREG HUNT:
Ah, no not at all. On issues relating to Paris the Foreign Minister in France and in Australia leads, and issues relating to domestic policy, that's my area. And I've been very fortunate to drive this process, which has taken us beyond what many had ever expected to a minus 26 to minus 28 outcome. I'm deeply proud of that, and I'm also deeply appreciative of the support from the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister.
CARRIE BICKMORE:
Just before we let you go you have just walked out of the free vote debate on marriage equality, how did that go, and will you personally support it?
GREG HUNT:
Look, there's no resolution at this stage, I've missed some of it, but I've also been present for other parts of it – I've been doing media such as this. I won't pre-empt the outcome, but I am very proud of the fact that the party is having a genuinely open, genuine discussion where people are able to express their views without fear or favour, with a lot of courage. I'll let that run its course, but I'm very pleased and very proud of the way in which it's being conducted in an open, honest, forthright way.
WALEED ALY:
All might be revealed soon Minister, thank you very much for joining us tonight.
GREG HUNT:
Thanks very much.
(ENDS)