8
December 2008 - Minister for Climate Change
and Water, Senator Penny Wong, today departs
for UN climate change negotiations in Poland
where she will argue the global financial
crisis should not delay international action
on climate change.
"The Australian
Government recognises the need to show that
we remain committed to tackling climate
change despite the global financial crisis,"
Senator Wong said.
The Australian Government
is backing this signal with concrete action
through its Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme
(CPRS).
"The CPRS is the
right thing to do - for Australia's economic
future and to enable Australia to do its
fair share in tackling climate change globally."
The climate negotiations
in Poland represent the mid-point in efforts
to forge a post-2012 global agreement that
were launched under the Bali Roadmap last
year.
"At Poznan, we
should reinforce our commitment to the Bali
Roadmap and set the stage for intensifying
negotiations in 2009 in the lead-up to the
next conference in Copenhagen," Senator
Wong said.
"We are working
towards securing a comprehensive, fair and
effective global agreement."
Senator Wong said more
countries, including all major economies,
must commit to mitigation efforts to restrain
or reduce emissions.
Australia will release
its medium-term target range and CPRS White
Paper on 15 December.
Australia will also
call on other advanced economies to put
mid-term targets on the table as early as
possible next year.
Senator Wong will have
a series of one-on-one meetings in Poznan
to brief other countries on Australia's
CPRS and hear more about their efforts to
reduce carbon pollution.
"Climate change
is a global problem and it's important we
all do our bit to reduce carbon pollution,"
Senator Wong said.
+ More
$1 billion to help secure
urban water
7 December 2008 - Treasurer
Wayne Swan and Minister for Climate Change
and Water, Senator Penny Wong, today released
the guidelines that will govern the Rudd
Government's $1 billion National Urban Water
and Desalination Plan announced in this
year's Budget.
Under this Plan the
Australian Government will fund large-scale
infrastructure projects to help cities and
towns meet future demand for water.
Funds available under
the Plan will support the building of desalination
plants and recycling and stormwater harvesting
infrastructure in urban areas with populations
of more than 50,000 people.
The release of these
guidelines follows passage last week of
landmark reforms through the Federal Parliament
to help secure the future of the Murray-Darling
Basin.
Senator Wong said the
Government is working to secure water supplies
for all Australians with its long-term $12.9
billion plan, Water for the Future.
"While we are focused
on reducing the carbon pollution that is
causing climate change, we are also preparing
for the climate change we can't avoid,"
Senator Wong said.
"Climate change
means a future with less rain in much of
Australia's population centres.
"The situation
in the Murray-Darling Basin - where there
have been 38 consecutive months of record
low inflows - makes clear that we have to
secure new water supplies that rely less
on rain.
"Whereas the previous
Government thought city water supplies was
a problem for the States, the Rudd Government
is stepping up to the plate to provide assistance
for State Governments that are diversifying
their water supplies."
Private organisations,
water utilities, and state, territory and
local governments are invited to apply for
funding. Successful organisations will receive
either 10 per cent of the total cost of
the project or $100 million, depending on
which is the lesser amount.
Access to funding is
conditional on state and territory governments
achieving water reforms agreed through the
Council of Australian Governments.
The plan is a key component
of Water for the Future - the Government's
10-year $12.9 billion plan to secure the
long-term water supply of all Australians.
There will be a one-month
consultation period on the draft legislation
and explanatory information to support the
National Urban Water and Desalination Plan.
Private organisations
implementing projects under the plan will
receive funding through tax offsets. Implementing
this requires some changes to the tax laws.
The draft legislation
is to: give effect to the tax offset arrangements
for the plan; detail the operation of the
certificate which entitles the recipient
to the tax offset; and enact a number of
consequential amendments to the income tax
law.
Interested parties are
invited to make submissions on the draft
legislation and associated explanatory materials.
Senator Wong said these
funds for larger cities were complemented
by the $250 million National Water Security
Plan for Cities and Towns which targets
areas with less than 50,000 people by funding
practical projects such as pipelines, water
saving infrastructure and water treatment
plants.
Proposals for funding
from the National Urban Water and Desalination
Plan must be received by 30 June 2009. Guidelines
will be available from www.environment.gov.au/water
from tomorrow.
More information on
the draft tax legislation will be available
from www.treasury.gov.au or by emailing
watertaxoffset@treasury.gov.au
