Anglicare Sydney responds to the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Green Paper
ANGLICARE Sydney has made a submission in response to the Federal Government’s ‘Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme’ Green Paper. The submission stated that in principle, ANGLICARE Sydney supports the proposed Scheme’s objective ‘to meet Australia’s emissions reduction targets in the most flexible and cost-effective way; to support an effective global response to climate change; and to provide for transitional assistance or the most affected households and firms.’
ANGLICARE Sydney relied on data from its forthcoming research report entitled Helping with the Cost of Energy: Report of ANGLICARE’s 2006 EAPA Data Collection, to provide the context of clients being assisted under the Energy Accounts Payable Assistance (EAPA) scheme such as their presenting problems, demographic information as well as the type and level of assistance required. These clients are already experiencing difficulties paying their energy bills and will face increased costs by the measures in the proposed Scheme.
Recognising that there is a need for early responses to address climate change, ANGLICARE Sydney recommended that specific and comprehensive measures are put in place that guarantee low income households – often single parent with children or lone person households, with people solely dependent on Government benefits – are not excluded for participating in a way of living that is energy efficient.
The Federal Government intends to release exposure draft legislation package in December 2008, with consultations regarding the package to occur December 2008 to February 2009, and the Bill to be introduced into Parliament in May 2009 and the emissions trading scheme to commence in 2010.
A full copy of ANGLICARE Sydney’s submission can be downloaded here.
