Greenhouse Amendment for this Week's Energy Bills

Monday, 21 June 2004 10:00

Environment groups today are calling on the Federal Opposition, Greens and Democrats to amend the Energy Market Bill and the Trade Practices Amendment Bill that will be in the Federal Parliament this week.

The Bills establish and recognise the powerful new bodies for the regulation of electricity. Currently, the Bills fail to recognise the huge impact of the energy sector and spiralling demand on greenhouse emissions, say Total Environment Centre (TEC) and the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF).

"The National Electricity Market is an environmentally devastating mammoth that ignores the environment and low-income consumers," said Jeff Angel, TEC Director.

"These Bills must recognise that Australia's electricity sector is the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions and be amended. Rushing through legislation that cements in place severe architectural National Electricity Market defects is unacceptable."

"The Bills also need amendment so that the new National Energy Commissioners have environmental qualifications. Amendments must ensure that the ACCC listens to the community, and that consumer and environment groups are able to seek Judicial Review of decisions that affect them."

Australia is expecting $30 billion of electricity investment over the next 10 years. The new energy bodies will oversee the development of this future investment. Consumers will be expected to pay for this investment in higher electricity bills.

Australia has the highest per capital greenhouse gas emissions in the world. 34% of the nation's emissions are caused by electricity generation. Greenhouse emissions cause global warming which will result in more droughts, cyclones and water shortages.