Fed: Emissions trading inquiry a joke: green groups

AAP General News (Australia)
12-11-2006
Fed: Emissions trading inquiry a joke: green groups

Environmental groups say the government's inquiry into whether Australia should join
an emissions trading scheme is a joke .. stacked in favour of industry.

The taskforce consists of bureaucrats and resource industry figures .. chaired by Prime
Minister JOHN HOWARD'S department secretary PETER SHERGOLD.

But the Australian Conservation Foundation says it's a stacked committee of big polluters
.. and people who have vested interests.

Greens leader BOB BROWN says the inquiry's stacked with miners .. and set up as a sop
to the coal industry.

He says the prime minister's chosen the coal industry over his own grandchildren.

Total Environment Centre head JEFF ANGEL .. says the inquiry's terms of reference and
membership show the answer will be to wait for years before joining an emissions trading
scheme.



The taskforce includes Qantas chairwoman MARGARET JACKSON .. BHP Billiton executive
director CHRIS LYNCH .. mining company Xstrata executive committee member PETER COATES
.. National Australia Bank managing director JOHN STEWART .. Australian Pipeline Trust
director RUSSELL HIGGINS .. International Power managing director TONY CONCANNON and Alumina
Limited CEO JOHN MARLAY.

It also includes the secretaries of the departments of Environment and Heritage ..

Treasury .. Foreign Affairs and Trade .. and Industry .. Tourism and Resources.

AAP RTV jb/rt/psm/

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