Media Releases | 8th Nov, 2011

Price on Pollution becomes law. The clean-up of our polluting economy begins.

Tuesday, 8 November 2011

Environment Victoria today congratulated the Gillard Government, the Greens and the Independents for delivering a price on pollution.

In Canberra to witness the passage of the Clean Energy Future legislation and bury a time capsule to mark the event, Environment Victoria CEO Kelly O’Shanassy said that the legislation signaled a new era of clean energy investment that will begin to clean up Australia’s polluting power supply:

“After many fits and starts, today Australia finally has a price on pollution which rewards clean energy and provides an incentive for businesses to cut their pollution. From this moment forth we begin to clean up Australia’s polluting economy. Congratulations to the Gillard Government, the Greens and the Independents for beginning this critical journey.”

“Coming from a state where over 90% of our electricity comes from burning polluting brown coal, this legislation will be viewed as a turning point in future years. We are particularly pleased with the commitment to replace 2000MW of our dirtiest coal fired power stations. This should lead to one large power station like Hazelwood and two small polluting power stations being replaced with clean energy by 2020.”

“The Clean Energy Future legislation puts in place a critical framework for systematically reducing our carbon pollution and for ramping up our emissions reduction targets on a national level. It also includes important measures to support renewable energy and energy efficiency and boost biodiversity conservation.

With the passage of the legislation Ms O’Shanassy also called on the Victorian state government to stop playing politics and get on with the job of reducing Victoria’s greenhouse pollution and cleaning up our energy supply.

“While in Opposition, Ted Baillieu supported a price on carbon and supported many policies that will complement the carbon price including committing to improving the energy rating of existing Victorian homes to 5 stars. Since their election the Baillieu Government has complained about a price on carbon and systematically dismantled Victoria’s climate policy agenda.

“Its time for the Baillieu Government to get constructive, support a price on carbon and deliver Victorian policy to complement the national price on pollution.

More on our campaign to put a strong Price on Pollution

Check out EnviroWatch. A rolling report-card on the Baillieu Government’s environmental performance

For comment

Kelly O’Shanassy 0421 054 402