Fed: Democrats get "back to work" to call for green levy

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Fed: Democrats get "back to work" to call for green levy

By Louise Robson

MELBOURNE, Aug 5 AAP - Australian Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja took a breatherfrom internal party wrangles today, attempting to kickstart debate on a climate changelevy to reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions.

"The Democrats - back to work and once again an example of how we're always years aheadwhen it comes to policy development and particularly initiatives when it comes to protectingour environment as well as our economy," Senator Stott Despoja told reporters.

"So, it's a good feel."

The Democrats yesterday gave rebel senator Andrew Murray an extra 48 hours to meetthe deadline for a decision on whether he would stay with the party.

Senator Murray has until close of business tomorrow to meet his deadline which followsmore than a week of internal tensions in the wake of the resignation of one-time partyleader Senator Meg Lees.

Senator Stott Despoja refused to be drawn on the issue today.

"I'm not going to comment on those internal matters," she said, when asked whethershe had heard from the senator.

"I'm sure that we'll have a comment for you on Wednesday morning but in the meantimeit's a policy focus for myself and the entire parliamentary team."

Against the backdrop of the chimney stack of Melbourne's Newport power station, SenatorStott Despoja and Democrat energy spokeswoman Lyn Allison launched a discussion paperbacking a climate change levy on Australian industry.

The paper canvasses a range of options for an "emitter-pays" levy, and looks at whetherit should be applied to the carbon content of fuels or the level of carbon dioxide emissionsand how the money raised should be spent.

Senator Allison will host a forum on a climate change levy involving conservation,industry, energy, business and welfare groups and other political parties in Canberraon August 30.

Senator Stott Despoja said the federal government, which failed to ratify the Kyotoclimate change protocol, had taken Australia backwards on global warming.

"Australia can't meet its greenhouse targets - the Kyoto commitments to which we wereonce committed - and we know also that our economy in Australia could be seriously damagedby our industries missing out on the carbon-trading system and the advantages conferredon the ratifying countries," she said.

"We've recommended that a properly-designed climate change levy could be the answer.

The UK, Italy, and all Scandinavian countries have climate levies while France andNew Zealand have proposed their introduction.

Senator Stott Despoja said that left unchecked, long-term effects of climate changethreatened agricultural production, tourism, the environment and economic efficiency.

AAP clr/gfr/cd/bwl

KEYWORD: DEMOCRATS DESPOJA