Report

Direct Action: Paying polluters to halt global warming

26 March 2014

© Commonwealth of Australia 2014
ISBN 978-1-74229-973-0

View the report as a single document - (PDF 1230KB)


View the report as separate downloadable parts:

Committee membership (PDF 21KB)
Recommendations (PDF 38KB)
Abbreviations and Acronyms (PDF 14KB)
Chapter 1 - Introduction (PDF 23KB)

Conduct of the inquiry
Acknowledgements
Note on references
Structure of the report

Chapter 2 - The need for action (PDF 163KB)

A changing climate
International action
Australia's commitments under international agreements
Australian action in a global context
Climate Change Authority's assessment of Australia's targets
Assessment of Australia's international targets
Committee comment

Chapter 3 - The Clean Energy Package and the impact of its proposed repeal (PDF 255KB)

Policy background
Clean Energy Package
Carbon pricing mechanism
Industry assistance
Household assistance
Carbon Farming Initiative
Governance
Repeal of the Clean Energy Package
Effectiveness of the Clean Energy Package
Impact of the repeal of the Clean Energy Package
Committee comment

Chapter 4 - Institutions under the Clean Energy Package (PDF 112KB)

Importance of the Climate Change Authority
Importance of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation
Cuts to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency
Committee comment

Chapter 5 - Direct Action Plan (PDF 228KB)

Background: What is the Direct Action Plan?
Background: the Emissions Reduction Fund
Capacity of the Direct Action Plan to meet Australia's targets
Committee comment

Chapter 6 - Technical design issues with the Emissions Reduction Fund (PDF 150KB)

Additionality
Difficulties in setting baselines
The 'safeguard mechanism': Compliance and penalty issues
No overall limit on emissions
Timeframes
Future scalability and increasing targets
Accessing international credits
Benchmark price
Committee comment

Chapter 7 - Related issues (PDF 133KB)

Renewable Energy Target
Carbon Farming
Other components of the Direct Action Plan
Committee comment

Dissenting Report from Government Senators (PDF 73KB)

The carbon tax is not reducing Australia's emissions
Consultation on the Emissions Reduction Fund is underway
The minus five per cent target is sufficient
Significant impact of the carbon tax
High cost of direct action
Soil Carbon Sequestration
World Carbon Taxes
Comparison of international emissions trading units
Support for Incentives rather than penalties
Recommendations

Additional Comments from the Australian Greens (PDF 29KB)

The Report's Recommendations

Appendix 1 - Submissions, tabled documents and answers to questions taken on notice (PDF 18KB)

Tabled documents
Answers to questions taken on notice

Appendix 2 - Public hearings (PDF 14KB)
Appendix 3 - Australia's 2020 target policy (PDF 25KB)
Appendix 4 - Comparison of original Direct Action Plan funding and commitments v current funding and commitments (PDF 34KB)

For further information, contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Environment and Communications
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: +61 2 6277 3526
Fax: +61 2 6277 5818
ec.sen@aph.gov.au