(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The vast majority of people in Australia agree with a proposed scheme to cap the amount of carbon emitted by businesses, according to a poll by Newspoll published in The Australian. 72 per cent of respondents support the initiative put forward by the government of Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The vast majority of people in Australia agree with a proposed scheme to cap the amount of carbon emitted by businesses, according to a poll by Newspoll published in The Australian. 72 per cent of respondents support the initiative put forward by the government of Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd.
Australia held a federal election in November 2007. Final results gave the Australian Labor Party (ALP) 85 seats in the 150-member House of Representatives. ALP leader Rudd was officially sworn in as prime minister in December, bringing an end to the 11-year tenure of Liberal leader John Howard as head of Australia’s government.
Rudd signed the Kyoto Protocol immediately after being sworn in, delivering on one of his electoral promises. In March 2008, the Kyoto Protocol came into effect. In July, the Rudd government introduced its Green Paper, a proposal to curb polluting emissions.
In September, after reviewing the Green Paper, the government said it will implement a "Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme." The plan will include a carbon emissions trading system that will help reduce pollution "in a responsible and flexible manner and at the lowest possible cost" by giving businesses a permit to release up to a certain amount of greenhouse gas emissions. The mechanism will apply to stationary energy, transport, fugitive emissions, industrial processes, and the waste and forestry sectors.
On Oct. 29, the government assured that the proposed scheme will not force big polluters to move their businesses offshore and that its implementation will not become a "company killer." Climate change minister Penny Wong declared: "What the modeling will show is that we can take action on climate change and retain a strong economy."
Polling Data
Thinking now about the environment, in particular, the federal government’s proposed carbon pollution reduction scheme. This aims to limit total carbon emissions by giving businesses a permit to release up to a certain amount of emissions. Are you in favour or against the introduction of the carbon pollution reduction scheme?
|
In favour |
72% |
|
Against |
21% |
|
Uncommitted |
7% |
Source: Newspoll / The Australian
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,205 Australian adults, conducted from Oct. 24 to Oct. 26, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
