[Oz-envirolink] Garnaut turns heat on Rudd climate plan

[hugh spencer]

http://www.theage.com.au/national/garnaut-turns-heat-on-rudd-climate-plan-200812
19-72a7.html?page=-1


  Garnaut turns heat on Rudd climate plan
AAP The Age December 20, 2008 - 7:11PM

  The Federal Government's own climate adviser has savaged parts of its
climate change plan, describing the assistance to big business as "over the
top".

  Professor Ross Garnaut says a massive lobbying exercise by vested
interests,  unprecedented in the history of Australian public policy, has
secured an overly generous deal  for business. He also thinks the
Government should not have ruled out a deep, 25-per cent cut in  emissions
by 2020.

  The Government went for a 5-to-15-per cent cut in its plan for climate
change and emissions  trading released this week.

  Professor Garnaut, who was hired by the federal and state governments to
advise on climate  change, said the scheme gave too much assistance to
industry.
  "I think it's over the top," he said.  "There had been "unprecedented
lobbying from vested interests ... unprecedented in  Australian
policy-making, the extent of it".

  "There's no doubt that the rate of return in lobbying has been very
high," Professor Garnaut  said.

  The final result - in which there are more free permits for more
businesses, plus generous  compensation - concerned him "because it's not
based on clear principle".

  "I think that everyone will start to wonder about the wisdom of how far
it's gone. I think there  are some budget problems ahead."

  Professor Garnaut said that, in general, the white paper was a positive
step forward because  Australia would now start to cut its emissions.

  But in some key areas the paper did not follow the advice he set out in
his report on climate  change, released in September.

  Professor Garnaut stood by his findings.

  "Naturally I think it would have been better from an environmental and an
economic point of  view if we'd ended up closer to my recommendations."

  One issue is the Government's target of reducing emissions by 5 to 15 per
cent by 2020. The  target has been slammed by environmentalists.

  Professor Garnaut stood by his recommendation of a maximum 25-per cent cut.

  "I think it would have been better for Australia's environmental interest
and long-term  economic interest to have kept it on the table," he said.

  "I wouldn't have recommended it unless I thought it was best for Australia.
Mr Rudd's formed a different view".

  "I find it a little bit difficult to understand the advantage to
Australia of cutting off the ambitious  outcome."

  Professor Garnaut also criticised the government's decision to give $3.9
billion in free permits  to coal-fired power stations.

  "I don't think there is any public policy justification at all for this."

  He took aim at Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's decision to effectively exempt
petrol from the  scheme until 2013, saying with oil at $US40 a barrel there
was not an overwhelming case for  exemption.

  And Professor Garnaut stood by his recommendation that a substantial part
of the revenue  earned in emissions trading go towards energy efficiency
programs. The Government did not  take this advice.

  Professor Garnaut said the financial crisis was no excuse to go soft on
climate change.

  "I say (in my report) that the financial crisis shouldn't make any
difference. I stand by that on  policy."

  While Professor Garnaut spoke freely on how the scheme could be improved,
he said he accepted the Government did not have to take all his advice.

  The Government had accepted his advice on some issues, and rejected it on
others, he said.  He did not feel personally disappointed at the end
result.

  "When you've been through as much in life as I have, you roll with the
punches."
  AAP
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