The Hon Greg Hunt MP

Minister for the Environment

MEDIA RELEASE
24 February 2014

Carbon tax auctions cancelled

Under the existing carbon tax legislation, the Clean Energy Regulator is required to hold periodic auctions of carbon units. Three auctions were due to take place before 30 June 2014. I have stopped these auctions by signing the Clean Energy Auction Revocation Determination 2014. The Revocation has been lodged with the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments. It will be registered today (Monday 24 February) and come into force tomorrow (Tuesday 25 February). This gives business certainty that they no longer need to take part in carbon unit auctions. However, this Revocation can be disallowed if Labor and the Greens unite to support a motion in the Senate. Bill Shorten has a very clear choice. Does he support higher electricity prices or does he support Australian families and business? He cant have it both ways. Does Bill Shorten believe in higher electricity prices for Australian families? Well soon know the answer. Labor says they dont support the carbon tax anymore, yet they refuse to vote to repeal it. Theyre all talk, no action. This time, Mr Shorten would actually have to vote to reintroduce the carbon tax auctions and directly vote for higher electricity prices. The Coalition has always said Labors carbon tax wouldnt work and now we know it hasnt. The carbon tax was a $7.6 billion hit on the economy in its first year, yet emissions only fell 0.1% and we know this wasnt even because of the tax. Scrapping the auctions is an important step, but its still vital the carbon tax is repealed in full. Bill Shorten has taken ownership of the carbon tax. He can help cut powerbills by 9%. All he has to do is tell his Senators to abandon their support for Labors failed policy.

Media contact: John ODoherty 0402 047 852