Australia’s price on pollution
On 1 July, Australia finally put a price on pollution. Now, big polluting companies will have to pay for the pollution they pump into our skies, giving them a big incentive to clean up their act. The carbon price will kick start a transition to a clean energy future for Australia.
Congratulations to the millions of Victorians who’ve stood up for action on climate change. You helped make this major step forward possible!
Show your support for Australia’s new price on pollution. Watch and share this video through facebook with your friends and family to show them why you’re saying Yes to climate action.
Want to know how the carbon price will affect you? Check out this easy to use tool now and find out just what it means for you and your family.
Your Carbon Price
WHY DO WE NEED A PRICE ON POLLUTION?
Australia has a pollution dependent economy. We’re reliant on old, inefficient and out-dated power stations like Hazelwood – the dirtiest power station in Australia.
Yet the rest of the world is moving ahead rapidly with clean energy investment and new job creation. Unless we act now, Australia risks getting left behind.
With a changing climate threatening to alter the face of the world forever, Australians are taking action to help cut their pollution at home. But until now our governments have failed to take action to clean up our dirtiest polluters. Read more about climate change and what the impacts in Victoria will be here
THE SOLUTION
It’s imperative that our government act now to cut pollution and create an incentive for clean energy. Because putting a price on pollution is the cheapest and most efficient way to take action on climate change, it’s the solution that is best for our economy, environment and communities.
Australia’s carbon price, also known as the carbon tax, started on the 1st July 2012.
Environment Victoria has welcomed the package as an important first step towards Australia taking serious action on climate change. Check out our media release on the announcement of the carbon price here
The carbon price package will create an incentive for big polluters to clean up their act, will support households already struggling with energy bills, will invest in clean, renewable energy, and will help replace some of our dirtiest power stations. The result will be a transformation of Australia’s energy supply from old, out-of-date and polluting technology, to clean, safe and reliable power for the future.
Read our analysis of the highs and lows of the price on pollution package here
Find out why we believe Australia needs a price on pollution
Following a hard fought campaign from Environment Victoria and our supporters, the government has included a plan to close 2000MW of our dirtiest coal-fired power stations. This is the chance to Replace Hazelwood and other dirty power stations around Australia that we’ve been waiting for, and now, we’ve got the opportunity to make it happen. Find out more about our campaign to Replace Hazelwood
TAKE ACTION
Show your support for the carbon price and for action on climate change by sharing this important video on Facebook >
As with any big change, there has been a lot of misinformation and scare-mongering across the community about what the impact of the carbon price might be. The media coverage of this scare-campaign has led many to believe that no-one in their community supports climate action.
We need to stand up and show that we do want action – for our environment, our economy and for the future of our kids. Show your support now, and know that you’re one of millions of Australians who’ve helped make this possible.
more resources
We've tested the claims of the biggest polluters and compared rhetoric with the reality. Check out PolluterWatch
Key tests of a price on pollution
Check out the government’s website about the price on pollution, and find out details of the plan
There are a lot of myths out there at the moment about climate change and the impact of a price on pollution on the community. And we've busted 'em
Briefing paper: Treatment of electricity generators under a price on carbon. Check it out
After many years of hard campaigning across the community, in November 2011 Australia finally legislated to introduce a price on pollution. Relive the victory
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Sequence 07 1 from Environment Victoria on Vimeo.
