Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No:  37
Division/Agency:	International, Land and Analysis Division
Topic:	Climate Change
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Carr asked:
(a).	What new actions have been undertaken since November 2004 by the Commonwealth Government (as opposed to State Governments) to cut greenhouse gas emissions so that we will avoid a 23% increase by 2020?

(b).	Is it possible Australia may not meet its Kyoto target? Under what circumstances could that happen?

Answer/s:
(a).	Since November 2004, the Government has been implementing measures outlined in its Energy White Paper and Climate Change Forward Strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These measures are designed to accelerate the development and deployment of new, more efficient technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the long-term.
Key activities include: the $500 million Low Emissions Technology Demonstration Fund, to bring forward new energy technologies to deliver long-term, large-scale greenhouse gas emission reductions; action on energy efficiency, to increase the uptake of opportunities that will reduce greenhouse emissions; and further investment in renewable energy, including a $75 million Solar Cities Trial and a $100 million Renewable Energy Development Initiative.

(b).	Australia is on track to meet its Kyoto target.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No:  38
Division/Agency:	Industry, Communities & Energy Division
Topic:	Solar Cities
Hansard Page ECITA:	ECITA 128

Senator Carr asked:
Can the Department provide advice on who makes up the consortia for each of the 11 shortlisted Solar Cities applicants outlined in the press release of 5 December 2005?

Answer:
Details of the organisations that make up each of the 11 short-listed Solar Cities consortia are confidential and cannot be publicly released.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No:  39
Division/Agency:	Industry, Communities and Energy Division
Topic:	Investment in Renewable Energy & Fossil Fuel sector
Hansard Page ECITA:	124

Senator Campbell in response to Senator Carr:
“We could actually give you an assessment of the pure dollar support to the renewables sector under our policies over the last three or four years versus what fossil fuels get”.

Answer/s:
The tables below list support provided by the Department of the Environment and Heritage.

Table 1: Programme support for the Renewable Energy sector
	Actual amount spent ($m)	
	01/02	02/03	03/04	04/05	Total 01-05 	
Advanced Electricity Storage Technologies  	-	-	-	0.3	0.3	
Photovoltaic Rebate Programme 	5.5	7.6	4.7	5.1	22.9	
Renewable Energy Commercialisation Programme 	7.7	6.4	15.7	2.9	32.7	
Renewable Energy Equity Fund 	2.5	1.9	1.5	2.2	8.1	
Renewable Remote Power Generation Programme 	11.6	19.1	22.8	22.0	75.5	
Renewable Energy Showcase	0.3	1.0	0.3	-	1.6	
Solar Cities 	-	-	-	1.0	1.0	
Wind Forecasting Capability 	-	-	-	1.0	1.0	
Low Emissions Technology and Abatement 	-	-	-	0.3	0.3	
TOTAL					143.4	

In addition, the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) continues to play a significant role in supporting the renewable energy sector. By 2010, MRET will underpin more than $3 billion in renewable energy investment and increase renewable energy generation by more than 50 per cent compared to pre-MRET levels.

Support provided to the fossil fuel sector by my Department has been limited to coal and natural gas projects relating to coal-fired electricity generation and trialling natural gas as an alternative transport fuel.

Table 2: Programme support for the Fossil Fuel sector  
	Actual amount spent ($m)	
	01/02	02/03	03/04	04/05	Total 01-05 	
Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme 	5.5	2.6	11.5	12.3	31.9	
Alternative Fuels Conversion Programme 	10.6	6.5	5.95	3.2	26.25	
TOTAL					58.15