Carbon tax out, net-zero backed
AUSTRALIANS may have changed their tune on the need for a net-zero target but they will not cop a return to a carbon tax, Energy Minister Angus Taylor says.
Speaking at a CEDA pathways to net-zero event, Mr Taylor was asked if a return to carbon pricing was inevitable as we hurtled towards a lower emissions future.
But he reiterated the government would stick to its “technology, not taxes” mantra to reduce emissions.
“The Australian public has been very clear on this at multiple elections. And in between, and that they, they don’t want to see the cost of energy going up in this country,” he business forum on
told the
Tuesday.
The Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister also renewed criticism of the Business Council of Australia, which has urged the government to fall in line with its global partners and slash emissions by up to 50 per cent by 2030.
Mr Taylor claimed such a cut could result in a backdoor carbon tax on business.
“Now there’s a lot of people who want to add costs. There’s an obsession in this, that we must add cost, we must impose costs on bad activity or bad industries, we’re not interested in that,” he told CEDA.
“We like carrots, not sticks because this stick has to be paid for by middle Australia.
“There‘s lots of backdoor ideas to get a carbon tax up but not, it’s not where we’re going.”
As the government edges closer to an agreement with the Nationals on a net-zero target, Mr Taylor urged the corporate sector to match the Commonwealth’s transparency with its emissions data.