E&OE….
Topics: Home Insulation Programme compensation, One Stop Shop, Direct Action, Renewable Energy Target.
DAVID SPEERS:
Environment Minister Greg Hunt joins me now.
Let’s talk about this firstly – the compensation arrangements – the Prime Minister mentioned families but also businesses.
GREG HUNT:
Correct.
DAVID SPEERS:
Are you able to say how much in total you’ve got to work with here? What sort of…
GREG HUNT:
Look, as you can understand I won’t speculate on or pre-empt any figures. Our principles here are fairness and justice for the families and for businesses. In the case of the businesses, there’s obviously a formal actuarial quantification process.
DAVID SPEERS:
But for the families, is there any sort of precedent – I mean how does a Government put a value on a life?
GREG HUNT:
There’s – it is a difficult thing and it’s a very uncomfortable thing. I have spoken with some of the families and left messages with others this afternoon and frankly it’s a very difficult conversation. And so what we want to do is to be as fair and as reasonable as possible. In civil society, through the courts, there is a long history of dealing with compensation and in the case of the loss of life and so that was…
DAVID SPEERS:
Is there (inaudible) Government programmes – where the Government has actually done something like this, where it’s…
GREG HUNT:
I’m not aware of any precedent at a Federal Government level previously. I stand to be corrected on that, but on the best advice I have…
DAVID SPEERS:
So it’s a blank page really…
GREG HUNT:
It is the beginning, so the principles are very clear that we said there’d be a Commission, the Commissioner found that there was manifest failure and now we have committed to compensation and we’ve already made telephone calls to start that process and we’ll work it through fairly and reasonably with the families.
DAVID SPEERS:
The PM also said there’ll be an external expert appointed to examine the role of ministers and officials in the delivery of programmes. We’ve had a number of inquiries and a Royal Commission into this – why do you need an external review again?
GREG HUNT:
No, this is a slightly different thing to what may have been understood. There are really three parts to what we are doing. One is actions to improve safety within the private sector as a consequence of the findings in relation to occupational health and safety and in particular roof cavity safety.
Secondly, compensation for families and businesses and thirdly, improving the process of Government. So the external adviser will be to look at the public service, work with myself and other Ministers on steps we can take to actually implement reform.
So it’s not to till old ground, it’s to take the findings of the Royal Commission and help the public service implement them because, frankly, the best advice we had from the public service is we may be a little bit conflicted on this because of findings against the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and findings against the Energy Efficiency Unit, which has now gone in to the Department of Industry.
DAVID SPEERS:
So you’ve put it at arm’s length?
GREG HUNT:
So it’s done at arm’s length and we think that’s sensible.
DAVID SPEERS:
A couple of other questions if I can. The Senate right now is debating this concept from the Palmer United Party for an inquiry into the Newman Government in Queensland. Part of it is to look at, or what it wants to look at, is the Environment Minister handing responsibility to the States for environmental approvals.
Do you fear what this Senate inquiry, if it does get up, might look at and why are you wanting to hand over approval powers?
GREG HUNT:
Well the first thing is that the One-Stop Shop has had bipartisan support. It was Julia Gillard at COAG – the Council of Australian Governments – in April 2012 who made a grand announcement – her centrepiece announcement was the One-Stop Shop, not just for assessments but for approvals, because she said the system could maintain high levels of environmental protection whilst being a single, unitary approach to making assessments and approvals.
We’re argued this for a long while. We’re now struck agreements on assessments with all States and Territories, and we’re doing that on approvals. There’s some additional legislation which we’re working though, but I am very hopeful that we can ensure that there’s a clean sweep of agreements with all States and Territories. We’re about six months ahead of where we intended to be.
DAVID SPEERS:
You’re obviously at odds with the Palmer United Party on that. But on Direct Action, his plan for an ETS – are you inching closer to a deal with Clive Palmer there?
GREG HUNT:
Look, we obviously just abolished the carbon tax and we’re not about to bring it back. We can see already the savings to families and everyday in the Parliament I’m giving examples of real world savings in electricity and gas prices…
DAVID SPEERS:
Sure.
GREG HUNT:
…to families and small businesses. We are, however, making very good progress with Nick Xenophon and the Palmer United Party. I don’t want to pre-empt any of their positions, but my hope and belief is that before we rise for the Christmas break that we will be able to have passed the legislation and begun the process of implementing the Carbon Farming Initiative and the Emissions Reduction Fund.
DAVID SPEERS:
And what’s your view on a zero priced ETS?
GREG HUNT:
Look, we’ve always said that we’re not about to re-implement the carbon tax. We are, however, as I say having very constructive discussions. I bumped into…
DAVID SPEERS:
(inaudible)
GREG HUNT:
Clive Palmer in the corridor today and we’re making progress. There are different ways to deal with it, but we’re not about to reintroduce what we just abolished.
DAVID SPEERS:
But that wouldn’t be the carbon tax, though. Zero priced ETS.
GREG HUNT:
Again though, let’s be clear – that was always a pathway back to the carbon tax…
DAVID SPEERS:
So, that’s not on.
GREG HUNT:
…a $38 price. Our position hasn’t changed since the night of the Al Gore and Clive Palmer press conference some months ago…
DAVID SPEERS:
(inaudible)
GREG HUNT:
…but there are constructive ways of achieving mutual goals, and remember this – if we don’t get this deal 159 projects around Australia will be in deep strife by February because the ALP and The Greens won’t step up to the table.
Thankfully, the crossbenchers through Nick Xenophon’s leadership, through the constructive work of Senator Madigan and in particular, through Senator Muir and the Palmer United Party, have been very (inaudible).
DAVID SPEERS:
A final one then, talking about sectors in deep trouble – renewables are saying we need a deal on the Renewable Energy Target. I know talks have now begun between the Government and Labor. When are we going to see an outcome there?
GREG HUNT:
So, I’d describe it as this – that there are sort of informal discussions. Nothing formal, nothing where there have been any details. It’s essentially talks about talks. But we’re ready. We’re ready to talk because the right way forward is a balanced middle path which sees certainty for the industry, a bipartisan agreement, but reducing the pressure on electricity prices.
The unions are saying to the ALP – come to the table because out manufacturing sector really needs this. And I don’t want to put them in a position that makes it too hard for them. We are open to discussions. We’re ready to talk at any time and this is the constructive bipartisan approach to Government for which people hunger.
DAVID SPEERS:
Environment Minister Greg Hunt, thanks for joining us.
GREG HUNT:
Thanks a lot David.
(ENDS)