The Prime Minister’s statement that we will do as much as the rest of the world and no more seem at odds with his decision to reintroduce the ETS in the first week of February which will be before developed countries put their voluntary targets forward, according to The Nationals Senator Ron Boswell. “When there has been no agreements on mandatory targets, no process of verification on targets, no treaty and no timetable at Copenhagen, the only reason he would re-introduce it prematurely is that he is looking for a double dissolution trigger,” Senator Ron Boswell said. “The failure of Copenhagen and the lack of commitment by other nations is a ringing endorsement of the Coalition’s position to block the legislation twice before.” “If the Prime Minister is determined to reintroduce this Bill in February, then the whole ETS will have to be remodelled by Treasury, as the assumptions used for the original legislation were based on all countries developed and non-developed taking part in the mandatory reduction of carbon. This is now not the case, as no countries will be compelled to produce targets or timelines. The Treasury modelling will now be totally out of wack.” “The agreement that was negotiated by US, China, India, Brazil and South Africa, and then endorsed by Australia only has a vague requirement to keep temperature rises below 2 degrees Celsius. This agreement requires a payment to non-developed countries of $30 billion between 2010 and 2012 and 100 billion dollars to 2020. I have asked Senator Wong on numerous occasions how much Australia will be expected to pay as our share to encourage non-developed countries as part of a climate change regime. Senator Wong said that we will pay our fair share.” “It is time the Minister and the Prime Minister told Australia what our fair share is and how they intend to raise our share; whether it is out of consolidated revenue or as Senator Wong described it as out of alternative financial sources. One of the sources that the Rudd Government supports is a tax or levy on aviation and shipping fuel. This will penalise our exports on minerals, primary industry and already struggling tourist industries.” “The Australian taxpayers need to know what further taxes and levies will be required to encourage non-developed countries into non-binding and non-verification targets with no timetables. Japan has put on the table a $9.2 billion figure to 2012 as its fast start finance. The European Union are contributing $5 to $7 billion to 2012. Seeing we have endorsed the agreement, Australia deserves to know what its costs will be.” “The Prime Minister has not been able to sell the ETS because he refuses to tell the Australian people what the cost will be and is treating them as mugs,” concluded Senator Boswell. ENDS